Caritas Sweden turns 70. It was established on 23 February 1946, when “Europe was a continent in ruins, and Sweden, having been spared from the devastation of the war, had become a refuge for tens of thousands of refugees”, the website of the Diocese of Stockholm reads. Aid was sent to Germany, France, Hungary, Poland, and Austria. In 1950, an office was opened in Stockholm for the refugees who were seeking the help of the Catholic Church, while aid continued to be sent to countries behind the Iron Curtain. In 1987, projects started to be run in countries of the South of the world. Severely hit by the economic crisis, Caritas had to reduce its activities after 2007, although it never “ceased to work for the protection of human rights and dignity”. In the agenda of Caritas Sweden there is now the establishment of a charity network in every parish, as requested by Bishop Anders Arborelius. “This work has become of particular significance following the arrival of large numbers of refugees in Sweden”, the website reads. “There is no majestic programme to celebrate the anniversary”, wrote Fr. Henrik Alberius, president of Caritas. “We would like to continue to be one of the many links in the network that protects our brothers and sisters who are hit by conflicts or natural disasters, or are living in the margins of society”. The €169,000 raised during the Advent collection will go to refugee children in the Middle East and Africa.
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