Caritas Australia representatives yesterday met with Australia’s new ambassador to the Holy See, Keith Pitt, to discuss the effects global debt and climate change have on the world’s most vulnerable people.
Kirsten Sayers, interim chief executive at Caritas, said she and associate director of advocacy, Damian Spruce “appreciated the opportunity” were grateful to meet with Mr Pitt, who was appointed to the ambassador role earlier this month.
“[The meeting] afforded us the opportunity to discuss many issues of importance to the Catholic Church and Caritas that align strongly with Australia’s international agenda,” Ms Sayers said.
“From addressing the impacts of climate change and global debt on the world’s most vulnerable, to the protection of humanitarian personnel.”
This year, a new debt justice campaign has been launched by Caritas Internationalis, which seeks to build on the hugely successful Drop the Debt campaign in the year 2000.
It does so by calling for the reform of international financial structures that generate massive debt burdens on developing countries and replace them with a fairer system.
Caritas Australia will participate in this campaign around the 10-year anniversary of the historical papal encyclical, Laudato Si’.
“Being a Holy Year, 2025 is a crucial time for Catholics around the world to strengthen their connection to the Holy See,” Ms Sayers said.
“As part of that, we look forward to working with the Hon. Keith Pitt to bring about greater equality, justice and care for our common home.”
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Caritas Australia meets with the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See (Caritas Australia)
