VAN THUÂN FOUNDATION
Supporting the integral development of local Churches around the world
In line with the promotion of integral human development, the Foundation—acting as an instrument of the Dicastery—places support for the Dicastery’s work at the heart of its mission, with a particular focus on populations living in conditions of poverty and exclusion. This commitment aims to effectively overcome all forms of marginalization by ensuring equitable access to essential goods (healthcare, education, dignified work, and culture) and fostering the full empowerment of individuals, enabling them to move beyond a state of mere dependency and become the architects of their own destiny.
Established on July 25, 2023, via a Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi, the Van Thuân Foundation was created by Pope Francis through the merger of two pre-existing entities—the "Good Samaritan" Foundation and the "Justice and Peace" Foundation (formerly the Saint Matthew Foundation)—under the supervision of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
The chosen name pays tribute to Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuân, who presided over the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (one of the Pontifical Councils merged into the Dicastery) from 1998 to 2002—the year of his death—and whom Pope Leo XIV cites in his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, as a witness to hope and human dignity (no. 125). After spending thirteen years in prison under the Vietnamese regime, Cardinal Van Thuân transformed his suffering into a message of hope and a concrete vision of integral human development—principles that continue to guide all the Foundation’s activities. He emphasized that:
“development does not mean merely feeding and clothing humanity, or spreading cultivation systems, or digging wells and canals; development also means the promotion of human dignity in every sense.” (Card. Van Thuân – CS 582)
This insight finds a perfect parallel in the reflections offered by Pope Leo XIV in Magnifica Humanitas, where
By “integral human development,” we mean a process in which the growth of individuals and peoples encompasses all dimensions of existence and opens the future to subsequent generations as well.” (n. 82).
To achieve this goal, the institution collaborates with Local Churches, helping them design and implement community development projects that strengthen the specific capacities of each area and generate lasting effects in terms of social inclusion and dignity. The underlying idea is to contribute to fairer societies where every person has genuine access to opportunities and can live with dignity, while progressively reducing inequalities. This approach reflects the principle of subsidiarity—a key tenet of the Church's Social Doctrine—which Cardinal Van Thuân himself summarized by noting that truly helping someone means empowering them to support themselves and, subsequently, to help others. He stated:
“Do not be content with helping people… help them in such a way that they can help themselves and are ready, in turn, to help anyone” (Card. Van Thuân - CS 583)
