Catholic humanitarian leaders from across the world gathered in Indonesia’s Labuan Bajo Diocese this week to reaffirm the Church’s mission of accompanying vulnerable communities and responding to growing ecological and social challenges during celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Caritas Internationalis.
The gathering on the Catholic island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara Province also marked the 20th anniversary of Caritas Indonesia, the humanitarian arm of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference.
Among those attending were Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, SVD, president of Caritas Internationalis and archbishop of Tokyo, Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC, president of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Maksimus Regus of Labuan Bajo, and delegates from Caritas networks across Asia and other regions.
Speaking with LiCAS News from Labuan Bajo, organizing committee member Antonius Eko Sugianto said the conference sought to strengthen humanitarian solidarity and care for “Our Common Home.”
A Thanksgiving Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Labuan Bajo brought together bishops from member countries of Caritas Internationalis, dioceses across Indonesia, and representatives of Caritas Asia and the organization’s Representative Council, or RepCo, the confederation’s principal governing body.
In his homily, Cardinal Kikuchi reflected on Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Deus Caritas Est and the meaning of the word caritas.
“Caritas does not simply mean love, but also love of God. Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that God is Love,” he said.
The cardinal said the mission of Caritas is rooted in an encounter with Jesus Christ and expressed through proclaiming the Gospel, celebrating the sacraments, and serving people in need.
“These three dimensions are interconnected and inseparable. Our mission is to help build a just world that reflects the Kingdom of God, where all people experience love, compassion, and a life of dignity,” Cardinal Kikuchi said.
He said Caritas seeks to uphold human dignity by listening to people, understanding their needs, and responding with compassion.
“Often, through Caritas, the Church expresses this love in a tangible way. Caritas accompanies refugee families, supports farmers, cares for children, ensures access to essential services, and helps communities rebuild their lives,” he said.
“In many places, the Church through Caritas becomes a source of hope, stability, and dignity for communities,” he added.
Cardinal Kikuchi also referred to Dilexi Te, an apostolic letter by Pope Leo XIV emphasizing that the love of Christ “draws near, listens, and accompanies.”
According to the cardinal, the spirit of accompaniment must guide the Church’s humanitarian work by combining compassion with professionalism.
“Accompaniment requires more than mere presence. Our service must be competent, organized, and effective, but also deeply human, rooted in compassion and in the love of God,” he said.
The celebration drew thousands of faithful to the cathedral and highlighted Caritas’ continuing work among poor, marginalized, and vulnerable communities.
Alongside the anniversary of Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Indonesia marked two decades of humanitarian service since its establishment on May 17, 2006.
Over the past 20 years, the organization has responded to major humanitarian crises in Indonesia, from the 2004 Aceh tsunami to floods in the Diocese of Sibolga in North Sumatra in 2025.
Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin said Indonesia’s selection as host of the anniversary celebration reflected the universal character of the Church and its mission of solidarity.
“May this expression of gratitude become a spirit that inspires and strengthens even greater works as a concrete expression of Christ’s commandment to love one another, especially the poor and marginalized,” he said.
He also recalled Pope Francis’ message that serving the poor is a special grace because not everyone is given the opportunity to undertake such ministry.
Before the Thanksgiving Mass, participants visited Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Datak, where Caritas Labuan Bajo supports local farmers through the HARVEST Program.
The initiative promotes organic agriculture and trains communities in the production of local microorganisms, organic fertilizers, and natural pesticides.
Organizers said the program reflects Caritas Indonesia’s effort to integrate the message of “integral ecology” from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls on the Church to hear “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
Labuan Bajo was chosen as the venue because of its natural environment and the ecological and social challenges faced by local communities.
Church leaders said collaboration between the Church and Caritas has supported disaster response efforts and community-based livelihood programs in the region.
Bishop Maksimus Regus of Labuan Bajo said hosting the gathering was significant for the diocese, which was established only in 2024.
“As a new diocese, established only in 2024, this is a sign of trust and support for us. We hope this gathering will bring long-term benefits, especially in sustainable collaboration,” he said.
West Manggarai Regent Edistasius Endi welcomed the gathering and expressed hope that cooperation between the Church and government would help improve community welfare.
“I hope that collaboration between the Church and the government will further improve the welfare of the community,” he said.
Caritas Internationalis, headquartered in Rome, is the Catholic Church’s global humanitarian confederation composed of 162 national organizations operating in more than 200 countries and territories.
Founded in 2006, Caritas Indonesia coordinates the Church’s humanitarian network across 38 dioceses nationwide.
