Caritas Internationalis proudly celebrates the appointment of its President, His Excellency Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo, as a Cardinal. This significant milestone reflects his dedicated service to the Church and to the people in need across the world.

Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi has worked with Caritas for over 30 years, beginning his journey as a volunteer in a Rwandan refugee camp. His compassion and commitment to helping those in difficult situations have been the foundation of his work. From disasters to war zones, he has met many people in need, always carrying with him their strong message: “Don’t forget about us.”

Throughout his time with Caritas, he remains a dedicated advocate for those in life-threatening situations. Caritas provides not only essential food, shelter, and medical aid but also works to offer hope to those facing severe difficulties.

Pope Francis announced Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi’s appointment during his Sunday Angelus, revealing that the Consistory for the creation of 21 new Cardinals, including Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, will be held on 8 December 2024 at the Vatican, during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The event precedes the opening of the 2025 Jubilee of Hope and follows the conclusion of the Second Session of the Synod on Synodality.

In his message, Pope Francis emphasized the global nature of the Church, noting that the Cardinal-elects hail from many different parts of the world. He said: 

Their origins expresses the universality of the Church, which continues to proclaim God's merciful love to all people on earth."

Alistair Dutton, the Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis said; “Archbishop Kikuchi’s appointment is great recognition of his service of the Church in Japan and Africa, his leadership of the Asian Bishops’ Conference, and his commitment to, and leadership of, the Caritas Confederation. Archbishop Isao has a deep passion for serving the poorest and most marginalised people in society, and for building a world of compassion and justice, in which everyone can flourish and enjoy the goods of the earth. We celebrate and congratulate Archbishop Kikuchi on this significant achievement.”