The pulse of social reality and the urgency of an ecclesial response were the axes of the meeting of the Southern Cone Zone of Cáritas, held in Buenos Aires from July 4 to 6. Delegations from the five countries that make up the area - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay - met to address, from a comprehensive perspective and deep commitment, the complex problem of addictions, as well as to share experiences of sustainability and strengthening commitment to the mission of Cáritas.

The beginning of the meeting marked a fundamental milestone: the visit to parishes in four peripheral and vulnerable neighborhoods, including the Hogares de Cristo. This immersion in the territory to start the meeting, direct contact with the community and attentive listening to testimonies allowed, as Agustina Langwagen, director of Cáritas Uruguaya and coordinator of the Southern Cone area, to give "meaning to everything that we later exchanged and shared." This experiential approach, beyond concepts, connected the participants with the shared pain and hope that germinates in every corner.

The same feeling is shared by Nicolás Osorio, a Cáritas Chile communicator who participated in the meeting for the first time. "The beginning of the meeting was especially impactful, when visiting the villages of Argentina. There we encountered the harsh reality, but also the beauty of the reunion with brothers who, with great courage, have decided to take charge of their problems"

The reality of addictions

The central reflection, by Father Charly Olivero, resonated deeply, inviting a review of the perspective and paradigms from which social reality is approached. He emphasized that our perspective directly influences our practices, and, in turn, action in the territory can transform our way of seeing the world.

For Father Charly, the problem of addictions is much more than a specific issue; It is a crucial vector for discussing the Church as a whole, proposing a way of being Church that is inherently integral, rooted in territory and community. This implies constant work in networks with all the actors involved, always placing the protagonism of the people themselves at the center.

This vision translates into the ideal of a People of God Church, which transcends the mere ecclesiastical organization to be a Church on the way out, willing to "be better injured by going out than sick by locking itself in," as Pope Francis taught. It is a Church with a deep "spiritual taste of being a People", that is, thought of from human ties.

Father Charly stressed the vital importance of communication to encourage others, recognizing that the illness is the true driver of the community response, which generates authentic involvement. In this way, action in the territory becomes prophecy and incidence, without the scarcity of resources being an impediment. In summary, Cáritas' response, according to Father Charly, must always be more ecclesial than institutional.

Continue walking as a zone

Another topic reflected on at the meeting has to do with sustainability. Based on the experience shared by Cáritas Brasileira, the exchange generated between the participants indicated that communication is a central part of the strategy.

Communication seen from institutional strengthening and pastoral conversion as a human right, to guarantee a voice to those who do not have it, recognizing and strengthening their own voice.

The agreements reached at the meeting include:

• Continue to encourage reflection on the response to the issue of addictions and its complexity also in coordination with the Episcopal Conferences and CELAM.
• Strengthen the region-area-country articulation, promoting a fluid and strategic conversation.
• Review and share communication policies to move towards a common framework between the five countries.

The The consensus was that the next meetings should include an experience or experience in the territory, guaranteeing that reflection and action arise, as on this occasion, from the heart of reality.

Agustina Langwagen summarized the spirit of the meeting. “It was nice to meet again, many of us who had known each other for a long time and shared a little path, and also to receive many people who for the first time joined a zonal meeting, it was very strong, not only from the experience we met, but also from what we felt between us, it is this thing of being family, we are there for each other and we accompany each other in the processes, and in an area that has such different Caritas, it is something very important, we do not share from being equal, but from being together in our differences.

For Nicolás, the meeting was a turning point and left a deep mark. “It reaffirmed the importance of Caritas' collective will to take on this challenge. As the young people we visited shared with us: they only hope that we never tire of working with the same impetus to build a better society."

The communicator shares with joy.

This conviction drives us to move forward, knowing that the path in each of our countries is strengthened with the support and collaboration of our Caritas sisters of the Southern Cone. We do not walk alone.