Editorial

 “In the face of uncertainty about the future, it is easy to become discouraged, pessimistic and even cynical.  Yet hope leads us to recognize the goodness present in our world and provides the strength needed to meet the challenges of our day.” Pope Francis, June 2024

These words, shared by Pope Francis in a video message in 2024, reflect how many have felt this year—a year once again shaped by crises and profound change. The climate crisis, too, is becoming increasingly visible, even here in Austria. Just think of the floods last autumn.

In times like these, our guiding principle, “We see need and act”, both grounds and guides our work at Caritas—because behind every crisis are people in need of help, people in need of hope. Being there for them is our mission. 

Caritas responds by standing united and working in close partnership with others, including at the political level, to push for change toward a more just society. Poverty is not fate; it is the result of unjust systems.

Care, education, climate justice, and international solidarity remain central to our work—priorities we will continue to uphold in the years to come.

At the same time, 2024 has once again shown us the remarkable strength of our network of solidarity and compassion. This collective power fills us with hope and confidence that positive change is possible. Let us keep moving forward together on this path.