Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean carried out a significant three-day advocacy tour in Washington D.C., from July 21 to 23, 2025, where they held meetings with congressmen, parliamentarians, representatives of the US Secretary of State, ambassadors of several countries in the region in the country and other organizations. The archbishop of Yucatán and president of Cáritas LAC, Monsignor Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, accompanied by the regional coordinator Nicolás Meyer and the coordinator of Institutional Strengthening Ana Mercedes Arias Pimentel, participated in the tour. These sessions had the constant support of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), consolidating a common front in the face of regional challenges.

The central objective of the mission was to raise awareness among decision makers about the complex reality that the region is going through and the strategic role played by the Caritas network in promoting humane and sustainable responses to multiple crises.

Nicolás Meyer, regional coordinator of Cáritas LAC emphasized the collaborative nature of the visit: "The entire visit was a collaboration between Cáritas LAC, CRS and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, starting from the premise that we are one Church. It is not that those of us from the south come to speak to the north, but it is the voice of the Church that crosses borders."

Mobility, peace and emergency management: the big issues for LAC

It was highlighted that forced migration from Venezuela, Haiti and the Northern Triangle of Central America is a "survival strategy" in the face of the lack of decent conditions. Caritas urged the US to reorient its approaches towards regional stability, through investments in community development, livelihoods and human rights protection. The work of Cáritas in the territories was highlighted, which includes humanitarian assistance, shelters, food security and political dialogue.

In the face of the crisis of violence driven by organized crime and exclusion, it was emphasized that "peace is not exported: it is built from the roots." It was proposed to support local capacities in social cohesion, mental health and citizen participation, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the UN Framework for Sustainable Peace. Cáritas highlighted its unique role in areas of high institutional fragility, where its pastoral agents are, in many cases, the only community support.

Faced with the challenges of climate change, it advocated changing from a reactive to a preventive approach, strengthening community resilience. Caritas was invited to recognize Cáritas as a reliable partner to channel help with international standards, especially where systems collapse.

Walking together in the search for solutions

Meyer highlighted the positive reception of the delegation and the appreciation of the work carried out by communities and faith-based organizations. “We found that both Democrats and Republicans mentioned the crucial and undoubtedly significant role we play in communities.” The coordinator also shared an observation about the current climate: "I was impressed by how everyone we spoke with was in uncertainty. It is a time of crisis, change and uncertainty, and the direction is not very clear."

The tour marks a vital step to position a narrative of hemispheric co-responsibility. The United States has a historical and ethical contribution in the region, and today common interests persist—such as stability and migration management—that allow us to build a shared agenda.

Reflecting on the composition of the delegation, Meyer pointed out the importance of synodality: "Respect for a synodal Church continues to be seen in the sense that it was Monsignor Gustavo, as bishop, and we as laypeople."

This action is part of a strategic roadmap of regional incidence. that Cáritas LAC has been developing in a sustained manner, with a view to consolidating transformative alliances in the medium and long term. These perspectives, aligned with global agendas, reflect Cáritas' commitment to transform the structural realities of the region from the roots, guaranteeing that international cooperation prioritizes human dignity and justice.

In various spaces, the unique role of the Church and the Cáritas network was valued for its close and sustained presence in territories where few organizations reach. Within the framework of the commemoration of its 70 years of service in Latin America and the Caribbean, Cáritas reaffirms its identity as a network that listens, accompanies and protects the most vulnerable communities, especially in contexts of high fragility, this capacity being recognized as a strategic asset. From an identity deeply rooted in human dignity, Cáritas promotes a culture of care that is expressed in its way of being, serving and articulating responses together with local actors, transversally integrating principles of protection and safeguarding.