New head of Vatican charity Caritas looks to future after papal firings

The new president of Caritas Internationalis said Tuesday that the Vatican’s top charity would turn to the future of its global humanitarian mission to end a difficult time that led Pope Francis to fire the previous leadership team.

Last week, representatives of the 162 national Caritas chapters convened in Rome to pick a new hierarchy, which the Vatican presented. It was the first general meeting since Francis in November replaced the Caritas president, vice presidents, secretary general, treasurer, and ecclesiastic assistant after an outside inquiry into bullying accusations uncovered management flaws at Rome headquarters.

Alistair Dutton, the incoming secretary-general, said he anticipated walking into an assembly “where people were angry and frustrated and were looking backwards” because chapter leaders had questions about the pope’s extraordinary engagement.

He said the discussion was about a family learning from the past and moving forward.

“I know the past is there, but we really haven’t dwelt on it,” Dutton told reporters. “We’re looking ahead.”

Dutton, a British former Jesuit novice, spoke alongside Tokyo Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Caritas’ new president, Belgian treasurer Patrick De Bucquois, and Kirsty Robertson, the organization’s first female vice president.

Robertson, President of Caritas Australia, said it was notable for a woman to represent Caritas at official Catholic Church gatherings, which are usually dominated by men.

She told reporters, “Women are poverty.” Thus, women should be present at all levels in our confederation.

Dutton recognized a determined search for a global South woman to lead the organization as secretary-general. He said national representatives who voted for him, including delegates who had advocated for a woman head, told him he had the abilities to succeed.

Dutton replaces French-Indian Aloysius John, who was fired in November after Caritas headquarters personnel complained of a poisonous work atmosphere. John accused the Vatican of a “brutal power grab” pushed by “colonialist” northern, wealthier Caritas chapters over poorer ones in the developing world on the eve of the general assembly.

The Rev. Pierre Cibambo, John’s ecclesiastic assistant who was also fired in November, was picked by African Caritas leaders to be their regional representative.

Dutton said the election was “a marker being put down by Africa” to maintain Cibambo in power, but he didn’t expect issues.