By Mark Saludes
COLOMBO – Dr Benedict Alo D’Rozario, President of Caritas Asia, underscored the importance of fraternal cooperation and Caritas’ identity as a faith-driven humanitarian organization during his speech at the Partners’ Forum of Caritas Sri Lanka in Colombo.
He emphasized the centrality of charity in the Church’s mission and called for strengthened solidarity among Caritas organizations worldwide.
Speaking on the foundation of Caritas’ work, Dr D’Rozario highlighted that “Caritas identity is rooted in the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching.”
He referenced Matthew 25:31-46, explaining that charity is not just an obligation but a measure of faith. “Loving your neighbor means feeding the hungry, welcoming the strangers, and so forth,” he said, stressing that this reflects both love for God and solidarity with the suffering.
Quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s Deus Caritas Est, Dr D’Rozario reiterated that “the Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God, celebrating the sacraments and exercising the ministry of charity.”
He also affirmed that “charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others but is part of her nature, an indispensable part of her very being.”
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