The Annual General Assembly of Caritas Lebanon was held at the invitation of its president, Father Michel Abboud, at the headquarters in Sin El Fil – Beirut. The assembly was attended by Archbishop Paul Abdel Sater, supervisor of Caritas Lebanon, representing His Beatitude Cardinal Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, as well as Bishop Michel Aoun, Bishop Charles Murad, Bishop Krikor Badishah, representatives of bishops, priests, members, regional presidents, employees, and volunteers.
Opening Ceremony
The meeting began with a Mass presided over by Archbishop Abdel Sater. In his homily, he emphasized that “working in Caritas is a divine calling and a mission of love, especially in serving the poor.” He called on attendees to uphold the legacy of those who came before them in this journey, stressing that each person is called to do good from their own position.
Father Abboud
In his speech, Father Abboud reviewed the main milestones Caritas passed through during the year 2024, affirming that “despite the crises Lebanon is facing, Caritas never stopped fulfilling its humanitarian and social mission, but rather continued with determination and dedication.” He announced that “Caritas Lebanon received the ‘Fully Compliant’ rating from Caritas Internationalis in 2025, making it the first and only organization in the Middle East to do so.”
He highlighted that “the Organization’s funds, which were estimated at $6 million in 2020, remained frozen in banks. However, it managed to maintain relative stability through available cash liquidity, which allowed operations to continue and job stability to be supported.” He added: “Despite the challenges and pressures that affected many organizations; including the freezing of U.S. aid, reduced international funding, and over 4,000 out of 15,000 NGO sector workers losing their jobs; Caritas sustained its operations with minimal impact on its budget.
Father Abboud emphasized the importance of external communication, pointing to Caritas’ participation in conferences and official meetings. He suggested the creation of a “Foreign Minister” for Caritas whose mission would be to convey the voice of the poor to the world, especially in countries with a Lebanese diaspora.
He also stressed the need to enhance internal communication, praising the network of volunteers, regional spread, and the diversity of programs. He described the regional network as the “beating heart” of Caritas, and the youth as its “dynamic spirit,” noting that over 2,000 young men and women are engaged in volunteer work despite economic challenges.
He recalled Caritas’ frontline role in responding to the Beirut Port explosion, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the southern Lebanon events, as well as its continued support for Syrian refugees while upholding the principle of dignified return.
He announced a new strategy to develop funding sources, support local initiatives, and digitally document achievements.
Father Abboud reminded attendees that this was the penultimate general assembly of his term, reaffirming his commitment to serve the mission to the end, stating: “Caritas is the Church at the heart of society, and society at the heart of the Church.”
Reports and Approvals
Following that, Secretary General Fadi Karam presented a detailed report on the Organization’s main activities during 2024, noting that Caritas provided over 3,500,000 services to approximately 600,000 beneficiaries.
Treasurer Nadim Nader presented the financial report for 2024, outlining financial challenges, spending mechanisms, and confirming the transparency of financial performance.
Grant Thornton then presented its external audit report, highlighting challenges related to exchange rates and the banking environment in Lebanon. The assembly unanimously voted to renew the contract with the audit firm.
The assembly concluded with participant remarks and clarifications, followed by a final blessing and a communal meal.