VATICAN, City — Giving recognition to helping the needy as among the most important initiatives of the Church, Pope Francis, however, reminded the faithful that charity involves more than just offering material aid but also calls for a commitment to fostering societal change.

Speaking to members of Caritas Internationalis from the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain who paid courtesy to the Pope, Francis enthused that those dedicated to charity must embrace “the challenge of being a motor of change within society by spreading a spirit of charity and justice.”

“Through . . . dedication to service, charity workers can reawaken in all people of goodwill a fraternal awareness that may sometimes ‘fall dormant’ or fail to grow,” he pointed out.

Based on archdiocesan statistics, Caritas initiatives in the Archdiocese of Toledo aided 23,526 people in 2023, distributing more than 5 million euros to combating various forms and levels of poverty.

Members of the organization traveled to Rome to mark their 60th founding anniversary.

According to Pope Francis, a deep commitment to charity is what distinguishes Caritas from other civic or philanthropic organizations, enabling them to be instruments of evangelization through the universal language of charitable works.”

Works of charity, the pontiff added, need no translator, there is no dictionary to translate them, it is a universal language.

“The whole world understands (charity). It is a language understandable to all, written with the witness and strength of all Caritas workers committed to Jesus Christ and the Gospel,” he further stated.

The Pope cited that responding to the needs of the poor requires individuals to cultivate their unique talents through a “human and spiritual formation” that equips them to address ever-evolving social challenges in light of the church’s social teaching.

In ending, Francis urged Caritas members to uphold the church’s social doctrine with “a spirit of collaboration and synodality across all pastoral realities in the diocese” even as he called on charity workers to serve as “teachers of the wisdom that the world so urgently needs.”

“The wisdom of Christ (is) conveyed through prayer and the sacraments. This wisdom is especially vital today, in a world where ‘foolishness is bought and sold’ at a costly price,” he concluded.