Michel Roy is the new general secretary of Caritas. The 56-year-old Frenchman was voted in by a majority of delegates at the organisation’s general assembly in Rome.
Roy’s election followed the Vatican withholding the nomination for a second term of the then current general secretary, Lesley-Anne Knight.
Immediately following his election, Roy addressed the assembly.
“I’m very moved by this. I’d like to thank Lesley-Anne for the work she’s done so far and also all of you for the work that you do for this network which reflects the hopes of the poor to build a better world.”
Roy’s election comes at difficult time for Caritas.
- Lesley-Anne Knight was blocked by the Vatican from standing for a second four year term
- Dominican, Fr Timothy Radcliffe was dropped as a speaker at the conference and replaced by Fr Raniero Catalamessa, the preacher of the Pontifical household
- The Vatican is now more involved Caritas’ work
In his address, the Holy Father reminded delegates that
- Christian charity is not merely benevolent work, but a form of evangelisation and service to God’s people
- without a transcendent foundation Caritas risks falling prey to harmful ideologies, and
- he encouraged Caritas to work in close collaboration with the Church’s Bishops.
The organization has heard calls this week from various high-ranking cardinals urging it to improve its Catholic identity. These calls include Cardinal Robert Sarah, the head of the Vatican body responsible for Caritas, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.
Opening of the general assembly, Caritas President, Cardinal Rodriguez said the way the Vatican handled Knight’s case caused hurt among Caritas members.
Gaining about 75% of the votes, Rodriguez won a second four-year term as president.
“Caritas gives witness to God’s love among us, a love for all people and especially for the poorest. Our experience and our formation of the heart through the encounter with Christ in the stranger and the marginalized transforms Caritas in its daily work into an authentic witness of God’s love present in our world,” he said.
Caritas’ new priorities
Following his election Michel Roy outlined his top four priorities for Caritas International.
- The reinforcement of the humanitarian response of the Caritas network to the victims of man-made or natural disasters.
- The promotion and coordination of “integral human development,” so that the poor can take their lives in their own hands and move forward.
- Advocacy for a better and more just world, putting the human back at being the centre.
- The improved coordination, access and communication among the members, so that each member participates in the promotion of the mission of the whole network.
Roy has 30 years experience working for Secours Catholique in France. He began by working for the diocesan office in Paris in 1981. He is a father of two children and is an alumnus of the Sorbonne University in Paris, graduating in economics and oriental languages.