During the welcome space, Cardinal Kikuchi led a reflection to the leaders of the region about the theological and pastoral identity of the network. Kikuchi stressed that social work is not a technical appendix, but the very heart of the Church's mission. Caritas is a synodal organization and an essential dimension of being the Church. My role as president is to ensure that all activities are connected to the base, because we are all Caritas in our realities and in the local Church.

The president reaffirmed that the process towards the General Assembly does not seek only organizational management, but rather revitalizes the role of local communities in the construction of a truly fraternal Confederation.

Alistair: building alliances based on equality, eliminating harmful power dynamics

For his part, Alistair Dutton presented a balanced view between the journey of the last four years and the strategic projections towards the 2027 General Assembly. Dutton stressed that coordinated work has enabled significant progress in the spiritual and institutional maturity of the confederation.

“As we look back over the past four years, we will celebrate what has been achieved at all levels of the confederation, by our members in their own countries, in our regions, working with their members across regions and in the General Secretariat where we have tried to support them all, encouraging and coordinating the work of the confederation. We are also looking to the future. We are currently reviewing our strategic framework,” said Dutton.

The Secretary General emphasized that this review process seeks to learn from the previous quadrennium so that the strategies are increasingly relevant to local churches. Likewise, he highlighted the importance of transforming the internal institutional culture:

I see enormous progress in our ambition, a growing awareness that our charitable identity is fundamental to the mission of the Church, and an increasingly deep spirituality and charisma. Our work on collaborative principles and operational modus operandi has helped translate that spirituality into practice, as we constantly work to eliminate harmful power dynamics, whether historical, political, or financial, so that our partnerships will be built on genuine equality and love, unity, and a common mission to serve the poorest among us.

Understanding governance for co-responsible discernment

The Preparatory Path of The region is conceived as a progressive journey articulated in seven virtual meetings. This pedagogical and pastoral route will accompany the delegates of the region in knowing all the essential elements for full participation in the assembly.

During the first meeting, participants were able to review the scheme of exclusive powers of the General Assembly, the composition of the delegations and the government structure of the confederation, as well as resolve operational concerns regarding the accreditation of their delegations.

The training itinerary will continue to develop over the coming months until the Assembly is held, which will take place from May 20 to 25, 2027 in Sacrofano (Rome).