CR4E: the Catholic response to global emergencies is renewed and expanded

From the experience gained during one of the most dramatic moments of recent years, a more structured, broader, and shared response now emerges. Various Catholic organizations and institutions have created a space for collaboration on global emergencies: the alliance “Catholic Response for Emergencies” (CR4E), a tool to address in a coordinated way the humanitarian crises that mark our time. 

At the head of this initiative, Joseph Kelly has been appointed as General Coordinator of the alliance, tasked with ensuring continuity, effectiveness, and a spirit of collaboration among the different entities involved. 

"CR4E is not merely a coordination mechanism, it is an act of collective faith. Together, we are discerning how best to ensure that the Church's irreplaceable presence in the world's most broken places is organized, amplified, and sustained for those who need it most." Joseph Kelly, CR4E General Coordinator 

From Ukraine to the world: the experience of CR4U

The roots of CR4E lie in the work carried out by Catholic Response for Ukraine (CR4U), the coordination group established in March 2022, shortly after the second Russian military invasion of Ukraine. In that context, some of the leading Catholic-inspired humanitarian organizations decided to combine their expertise, resources, and advocacy capacity to respond in a rapid, supportive, and transparent way to a crisis of historic proportions.

CR4U demonstrated that structured collaboration among global Catholic actors is not only possible, but also an effective tool for addressing complex emergencies. From this positive experience comes today the evolution toward CR4E.

“CR4E represents an effective and concrete response to the need to unite intentions and actions, a need that has been repeatedly emphasized by the Dicastery in the pastoral guidelines issued in recent years. Only by sharing information, programs, and resources will local Churches, religious congregations, and Catholic organizations be able to act more promptly, effectively, and credibly in carrying out their constant commitment to alleviating human suffering.”  Cardinal Fabio Baggio, Under-secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

An alliance for global emergencies

In light of the increase and intensification of armed conflicts, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises in various regions of the world, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has supported the creation of a platform for collaboration and coordination with a global mandate.

The new CR4E, jointly promoted by Caritas Internationalis and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), will operate on two complementary levels:

·       Executive leadership level, with periodic meetings of the heads of member organizations together with representatives of the Dicastery, to strengthen the common commitment to humanitarian interventions and global advocacy activities.

·       Technical-operational level, which will bring together humanitarian workers and advocacy experts at least quarterly to share data, analyses, best practices, and lessons learned.

CR4E will work across several strategic fronts:

·       collection and analysis of data from reliable sources;

·       coordination of services and development of joint initiatives;

·       advocacy with national governments and multilateral bodies, including United Nations agencies;

·       attention to spiritual care, with the presence of pastoral workers alongside refugees, internally displaced persons, and affected communities;

·       shared communication on actions undertaken and on emerging crises around the world.

Among the initial members of the Steering Committee are:

·       Caritas Internationalis

·       International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)

·       Sovereign Order of Malta and Malteser International

·       Aid to the Church in Need

·       Jesuit Refugee Service

·       AVSI Foundation

·       Catholic Health Association – USA

·       Depaul International

CR4E aims to be a stable space for discernment, coordination, and action, capable of combining humanitarian intervention, advocacy, and pastoral closeness. It represents a natural evolution of a path that began with Ukraine and now looks to the whole world, with the awareness that only through structured and ongoing collaboration is it possible to respond credibly and effectively to global crises.

"I believe the Church holds something unique that not many other humanitarian actors can offer: a presence rooted in relationship, in community,  in faith, and in the inalienable dignity of every person. CR4E exists to ensure that presence is felt where it matters most,  and that it speaks with one voice." Joseph P. Kelly, CR4E General Coordinator