The President General highlights the challenge of maintaining spiritual commitment in a world marked by secularization
In a recent interview with Vatican News, Juan Manuel Buergo Gómez, President General of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, emphasized the organization’s commitment to a form of charity that unites material support with spiritual accompaniment. The interview took place on the occasion of the International Executive Board meeting held in Atlanta, where the Society discussed global challenges, the implementation of its strategic plan, and progress in the canonization process of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam.
The PGI insisted that the Vincentian mission must not be limited to material assistance, but should also foster the spiritual growth of both those who serve and those who are served. In this regard, he underscored the importance of comprehensive formation for members and volunteers: “We want our members to bring the faith of Christ to those they accompany, because charity without a spiritual dimension loses its true meaning.”
The conversation also highlighted the key role of young people in renewing the Vincentian charism, particularly in the context of the upcoming International Youth Meeting to be held in Rome. “We are not merely seeking participation, but witnesses of the Gospel in everyday life,” stated the President General.
In a world marked by conflict, polarization, and poverty, the PGI called for preserving fraternity as the driving force of Vincentian action: “Christian friendship with the poor is not a slogan, but a reciprocal relationship that transforms lives.”
Likewise, the PGI highlighted the Society’s growing commitment to international cooperation and sustainability, emphasizing that this effort goes beyond responding to immediate emergencies and aims to foster lasting transformation in contexts marked by poverty, climate change, and social exclusion. In this regard, he stressed that the most vulnerable communities must have real opportunities to thrive through initiatives that promote autonomy, uphold human dignity, and support holistic development.
The interview concluded with a reference to the motto of his presidency: “See how they love one another,” an expression that encapsulates the ideal of a charity that is embodied, visible, and deeply rooted in the Gospel.
The full interview is available at the following link: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-04/society-st-vincent-de-paul-projects-jubilee-youth-meeting.html