Archbishop Luis Marín outlines his vision for Vatican charity work, emphasizing practical service, global aid, and the central role of the poor.
Newsroom (14/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Just steps from St. Peter’s Square, a steady line forms daily outside the Vatican’s Apostolic Almonry—an office often described as the Church’s “emergency room of charity.” Beneath a courtyard adorned with flowers and the evocative “Homeless Jesus” sculpture, Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín has begun his tenure as Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, bringing a renewed focus on what he calls “concrete charity.”
Appointed by Pope Leo on March 12, the Augustinian archbishop has spent his first two months immersed in the daily realities of one of the Vatican’s most hands-on ministries. The location, informally known as the “House of Zacchaeus,” is anything but symbolic—it is a hub of constant activity where need meets response in tangible ways.
“Above all, I felt joy,” Archbishop Marín said, reflecting on the moment of his appointment. “It places me in direct contact with the Gospel and with concrete charity.” He described the role not as administrative, but pastoral: a continuation of his vocation as a servant, centered on direct engagement with the poor.
A Broad Mission Rooted in Daily Need
Since the promulgation of Praedicate Evangelium, the Apostolic Almonry has expanded into a full dicastery—broadening its reach while maintaining its grassroots approach. Its work spans a wide range of services, from issuing apostolic blessings to overseeing medical care, hygiene facilities, and emergency assistance.
One of its most visible activities is the distribution of apostolic blessings, often requested for milestones such as baptisms, weddings, and anniversaries. While symbolic, these blessings also generate funds that directly support charitable work. Demand surges especially in May, when First Communion celebrations bring longer queues to the office counters.
Beyond ceremonial functions, however, lies a far more extensive infrastructure. The dicastery operates two clinics near St. Peter’s Square, staffed by 120 volunteer doctors who provide care to individuals who often lack documentation or access to public healthcare systems. Hygiene services, including showers, and shelters for the homeless complement this effort.
Hospitality programs are coordinated across multiple Vatican-linked facilities, including Domus Mariae, Palazzo Migliori, and other shelters, offering meals, beds, and basic care to those in need. “Everything revolves around caring for the most fragile,” Archbishop Marín explained, “by offering healthcare, meals, hygiene services, and shelter.”
Local and Global Outreach
The dicastery’s work extends beyond Vatican City into Rome’s outskirts, where parishes receive assistance in the form of food, medicine, and other necessities. Twelve deacons from the Diocese of Rome play a crucial role in processing requests and coordinating with parish priests.
Internationally, the office channels aid to conflict-affected and impoverished regions, including Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and parts of Africa, working in coordination with apostolic nuncios. This global outreach underscores its dual identity as both local responder and international humanitarian actor.
“It is a huge dicastery, rich with opportunities and full of beauty,” the archbishop said, praising the dedication of staff and volunteers. He highlighted the collaborative spirit that drives the operation, calling his colleagues “good people, capable people, deeply committed, generous, and available.”
The Central Challenge: Listening to the Poor
Despite the scale of operations, Archbishop Marín insists that the dicastery’s priorities are defined not by structure, but by those it serves. “The challenges are always represented by the poorest,” he said. “They are the point of reference.”
For him, the task is not only to respond, but to understand: to listen to what the poor are truly asking for and adapt accordingly. This requires flexibility, collaboration, and a willingness to move beyond abstract notions of poverty.
“It is not ‘the poor’ as a category,” he emphasized. “It is the poor person, with a face and a story.” Encountering individuals directly, he said, transforms charity from concept into relationship—and reveals Christ himself.
Faith Expressed Through Action
Archbishop Marín’s vision is deeply aligned with Pope Leo’s recent apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, which underscores the inseparability of faith and charity. For the new prefect, this is not a theological abstraction but a practical mandate.
“The center of Christian life is charity. God is love,” he said, referencing his episcopal motto Deus caritas est. He argued that love surpasses even faith and hope as the defining mark of Christian identity.
This principle translates into a dual movement: bringing Christ to the poor through acts of service, and recognizing Christ in those who suffer. “The poor evangelize us,” he noted. “We give Christ, we offer Christ, and we receive Christ in return.”
A Personal Transformation
The work has not only shaped the dicastery’s mission but deepened the archbishop’s own faith. Encounters with the marginalized, he said, challenge and enrich his vocation as a priest and bishop.
“Christ is not merely an idea or a page in a book,” he reflected. “He is alive—and we meet him in the concrete reality of those in need.”
As he looks ahead, Archbishop Marín calls for continued support, especially through prayer, to sustain what he describes as an “extraordinary service of charity.” For him, the success of the dicastery will not be measured in structures or statistics, but in its fidelity to a simple yet demanding ideal: making love visible through action.
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