Under the slogan “Localization in Action: Building Sustainable Partnerships,” a conference organized by Caritas Jordan was launched in the Jordanian capital, Amman, bringing together its partners in social action.

The conference was attended by Bishop Giorgio Bertin, President of Caritas Middle East and North Africa, who spoke about synodality in the Church today, in the presence of Mr. Karam Abi Yazbek, Coordinator of the Caritas MONA Office.

The welcoming address was delivered by Mr. Thabet Al-War, Chairman of the newly established Board of Administration of Caritas Jordan, who also introduced the members of the Board present.

Mr. Al-War expressed his appreciation for the presence of Bishop Iyad Twal, Vice President of Caritas Jordan; Archbishop Giovanni Dal Toso, Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan; Archimandrite Boulos Nehmeh, Patriarchal Administrator of the Melkite Greek Catholics; as well as priests, religious sisters, and representatives of partner and supporting institutions.

In his address, Bishop Iyad Twal, Vice President of Caritas Jordan, highlighted the importance of good governance within the framework of localization. He also took the opportunity to thank all those who contributed to Caritas’ journey over the past years, with special recognition of Mr. Wael Suleiman, who led Caritas in the previous phase and submitted his resignation a few days earlier. He further congratulated the new Board of Directors, chaired by Mr. Al-War, expressing his hope for continued dedication and for building stronger bridges at both the local and international levels.

Archbishop Giovanni Dal Toso, Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan, spoke about the relationship between Catholic organizations and the Holy See. The opening session also included the screening of a documentary film highlighting the work of Caritas Jordan over the past years.

A joint address was then delivered by Mr. John Coughlin from Caritas Internationalis and Ms. Amanda Schweizerfrom Catholic Relief Services (CRS). This was followed by discussion sessions in which partners and donors were divided into working groups to reflect on the structure and mission of Caritas today, as well as issues related to governance, accountability, and international partnerships. The conference concluded with the presentation of summaries from each discussion group.