Vatican City, Nov 23, 2022: Pope Francis has fired the entire leadership of Caritas Internationalis (CI), the Catholic Church’s worldwide charity arm, following accusations of bullying and humiliation of employees, and appointed a commissioner to run it.

The move involved the executives of the Vatican-based confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social services organizations working in more 200 countries.

The CI has more than 1 million staff and volunteers around the world. The sacking of its executives was announced November 22 in a papal decree released by the Vatican press office.

A separate statement from the Vatican’s development department, which oversees CI, said a review of the workplace environment this year by external management and psychological experts found malaise and bad management practices at its headquarters.

Current and former staffers told Reuters of cases of verbal abuse, favoritism, and general human resources mismanagement that had led some staff to leave. CI is based in a Vatican-owned building in Rome.

“No evidence emerged of financial mismanagement or sexual impropriety, but other important themes and areas for urgent attention emerged from the panel’s work,” the statement from the development office said.

Pope Francis has appointed Pier Francesco Pinelli as the CI’s temporary administrator. The Decree also names Maria Amparo Alonso Escobar and Jesuit Father P. Manuel Morujão, as support to Pinelli “for the personal and spiritual accompaniment of the employees.”

In addition the decree also states that those serving as president, vice-presidents, general secretary, treasurer, and ecclesiastical assistant “shall cease from their respective offices,” and that Cardinal Luis Tagle, CI president until now, will assist Pinelli in the duties entrusted to him.

CI, the Pope says in the decree, assists him personally in his own ministry to the poorest and most in need, manages humanitarian crises, and collaborates in spreading charity throughout the world “in the light of the Gospel and the teachings of the Catholic Church”.

Pope Francis also explains in the decree his motivation for appointing a temporary administrator, saying the move is necessary to review Caritas’ norms and procedures and to make necessary preparations for the elections set for the next general assembly.

Pinelli is described in the press statement as a “well-known organizational consultant and administrator,” “with a more humanist than technical way of proceeding.” With a background in Ignatian spirituality, his volunteer works include “the recovery of drugs addicts, in development cooperation, support for missionary works and catechesis.”

His professional portfolio includes “33 years of work…in different sectors,” and 10 years as “CEO and then chairman of large energy companies.” His consultancy expertise has benefited the religious, secular, and cultural sectors, including serving as the administrator of the Italian government for the rehabilitation of cultural and performing arts organizations, the Jesuit Education Foundation, the DPIHD, Magis, and Treccani.

Pinelli was a member of a pontifical commission appointed for the “evaluation of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and of the dicasterial commission for the evaluation of the Migrants and Refugees Section”.

Escobar is currently serving as head of Advocacy for Caritas International, and Father Morujão has been involved in pastoral and spiritual ministry in Goa, Cape Verde, as well as his native Portugal. He was appointed as a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis.

The press statement also stated that “the functioning of member organizations” will not be affected by these changes. Rather, the latest steps “will serve to strengthen such service.”

Sources: Reuter and Vatican News