The Representative Council (REPCO) of Caritas Internationalis held its ordinary meeting in Mexico City from May 21 to 23, the first time in the Latin American and Caribbean region. This meeting, fundamental for the internal governance of the Confederation, brought together representatives from around the world to address crucial and strategic issues.

The REPCO is one of the key organizational structures of Caritas Internationalis and serves as the main internal governance body between the General Assemblies. Among its responsibilities are the making of government decisions, the representation of the priority needs of the regions and member organizations, the promotion of the active participation of all Member Organizations and the dissemination of the Catholic identity of Caritas Internationalis, ensuring the connection between social, pastoral and evangelization activity.

During the meeting, the members of the REPCO worked with the current rapid situations that we are experiencing, the election of the Pope, the whole issue of the reduction of funding and also the review of the strategic objectives of the new Caritas Internationalis plan, an issue of vital importance for the future of the Confederation.

In addition to the intense work agenda, the participants had the opportunity to celebrate in the Basilica of Guadalupe and learn a little about the rich Mexican culture, thus promoting the spirit of fraternity and understanding between the various regions.

Janeth Márquez, director of Cáritas Venezuela and one of the representatives of Latin America on the council, highlighted that for Latin America it is extremely important that the REPCO has been in our region to feel the harmony, feel the guidelines, but also the human warmth that Latin America means.

That people from Asia, from Africa, from all continents are in our region is extremely important because in the end they can understand what is happening to us and also feel the joy and fraternal solidarity that we from Latin America have with the world. Furthermore, bringing our Board of Directors to Mexico, to the Basilica, with the Virgin of Guadalupe was extraordinary because in some way it makes visible the fears, the challenges and also the challenges of a region that is not visible in the world and sometimes it seems that we do not exist. So, for the first time in many years, there had been no Board of Directors coming to Latin America and we had it.

Holding this event in Mexico highlights the importance of the region to Caritas Internationalis, allowing its leaders a deeper understanding of the challenges and vibrant solidarity of Latin America and the Caribbean.