Vatican City, Feb 23, 2011 / 09:33 am
The Vatican believes that its top aid agency, Caritas Internationalis, needs new leadership to build a stronger Catholic identity within the organization, said Cardinal Robert Sarah, who oversees the agency’s work as president as president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.
The Rome-based Caritas recently announced that the Vatican would not permit its current secretary general, Lesley-Anne Knight, to run for re-election to the position this May.
Cardinal Sarah explained the Vatican’s reasons during the course of a Feb. 22 press conference to release the Pope's annual Lenten message.
Cardinal Sarah told journalists, "we must recognize the work accomplished by Mrs. Knight, but for today's new challenges we need someone else." He added that it is "normal that for new challenges other people are chosen that the confederation presents."