The Roman Catholic Church’s global charity arm, Caritas Internationalis, has criticized US President Donald Trump’s foreign aid cuts as catastrophic. The US Agency for International Development (USAID), which is a major recipient of funding from the US government, will face significant reductions due to these cuts.
According to Caritas Internationalis, the cuts will have a devastating impact on millions of people in developing countries. The charity organization stated that the US administration’s decision to end funding for USAID will result in “millions of people” dying and many more being condemned to lives of poverty.
The US State Department has issued a “stop-work” order for all foreign assistance programs, including those managed by USAID. This move is part of a broader government reduction program spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk.
Caritas Internationalis also expressed concern over the impact on other Catholic charity agencies, such as US-based Catholic Relief Services and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Both organizations have announced layoffs due to reduced funding from federal grants.
The Vatican’s leader, Pope Francis, has previously spoken out against Trump’s policies, including his plans to deport millions of migrants. However, he has not commented on the foreign aid cuts specifically.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-foreign-aid-cuts-catastrophic-says-global-catholic-charity-arm-2025-02-10