The Catholic Church is the largest civil institution that provides healthcare in the world. It builds and runs healthcare facilities (HFCs) and is present – through Caritas and other religious bodies
Caritas takes an integrated approach in its development work – aiming to combat poverty, to support people who are excluded and to care for our common home.
It works alongside and in solidarity with the more than 800 million people who still live below the poverty line, whether they live in poor countries or rich ones.
To Caritas, development means building a world in which we all live without fear of hunger and injustice, peacefully co-existing, providing for ourselves and protecting our planet. We focus on the root causes and multiple effects of poverty and on bringing the empowered voices of communities into the political process.
In this spirit, Caritas is pleased to have participated in the open and collaborative process out of which a new development agenda was born in September 2015. Known as the Sustainable Development Goals – or SDGs – the 17 goals and 169 targets, are ambitious and challenging. But, they are also offer hope.
While the SDGs are a follow on to the “unfinished business” of the Millennium Development Goals of the last 15 years, they now apply universally to every country and go further in pledging that no person will be left behind. They put the dignity of the human person at the heart of their vision in the same way as does the Laudato Si’ Encyclical of Pope Francis.
Caritas will work through its members worldwide to bring a visible difference to the success of the SDGs and to the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people.
What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?
Pope Francis, Laudato Si’
Caritas Updates On Development
Read about how we work with REPAM – a Catholic Church network promoting the rights of people living in the Amazon.

Ahead of the fifth European Union donor conference on Syria, Caritas Internationalis shed light on the situation in Syria and urges the international community to act during the conference “Church and Caritas: 10 years of humanitarian response in Syria”.

Vaccines are to be considered as common property of humanity and must be made available for all with equity, justice and as a human right.

Caritas supports the community in Mahama camp to rebuild their lives, reinforcing long term development plans for restoring dignity.

Caritas believes that 11 percent of the world's population lives in hunger is an issue that must be addressed with strong political will and commitment.

Caritas found profound inspiration in Paul VI’s encyclical Populorum Progressio, where the Pontiff stated that “development is the new name of peace”.

The fifth anniversary of Laudato Sì, in the context of COVID-19 brings to us the key message that ecological conversion has to take place now.

Caritas found Juthika’s family to be extremely vulnerable and decided to give her training and help her do a small business plan.

Caritas Internationalis values women, their voice and their contribution in all areas of life in the society, in the Church and in Caritas.
How Caritas works on Development
Caritas is focused on achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals during their lifetime of 2105 to 2030. The SDGs will greatly influence the national planning of governments and the funding priorities of donors. Learn more.