POPE Francis has removed all officials, including Cardinal Tagle, to pave the way for a review of the functions and structure of Caritas International amid issues of sexual abuse and financial mismanagement.
Tagle was elected to head Caritas International in 2015, making him the first president of the organization from Asia. He was reelected in 2019, his term supposed to end in 2023.
In a Decree issued by Pope Francis, the Vatican announced the designation of temporary officials ahead of the next General Assembly supposedly set in 2023.
“With the entry into force of this measure, the Members of the Representative Council and the Executive Council, the President and Vice Presidents, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and the Ecclesiastical Assistant shall cease from their respective offices,” said Pope Francis.
In a report by Vatican News, Tagle said the sudden changes in the organizations were not due to irregularities. He assured that the changes do not concern issues on sexual abuse or financial mismanagement involving its officials.
“I would like to assure you that this is not, this is not, this is not about sexual harassment or sexual abuse. This is not about, again, mismanagement of money,” Tagle stressed, adding the changes are meant to provide opportunities to further improve the organization as envisioned by the Pope.
“Rest assured that this decision of the Holy Father came after a careful and independent study of the working environment of the Secretariat and the governance exercised by responsible persons and bodies,” said Tagle.
According to the Decree, the changes in the leadership are imperative in a bid to improve the fulfilment of the mission of the Church’s charity organization based in Rome.
“In order to improve the fulfilment of this mission, it would appear necessary to revise the current regulatory framework to make it more appropriate to the statutory functions of the organization, and to prepare it for the elections to be held at the next General Assembly,” said the Pontiff.
Pope Francis designated Dr. Pier Francesco Pinelli as Temporary Administrator of Caritas International.
“From 22 November 2022, he may temporarily direct it ad nutum by the Apostolic See, with all the powers of governance, in accordance with common law and the Statutes and Rules of the Institution, and with full authority to derogate from them, should he deem it opportune or necessary,” the pontiff said.
Pope Francis said Pinelli will be assisted by Dr. Maria Amparo Alonso Escobar, Fr. Manuel Morují£o, and Tagle.
