Caritas
Swiss Catholic not-for-profit organization working to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty in Switzerland and abroad.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Caritas Switzerland is a Swiss Catholic not-for-profit organization headquartered in Lucerne. Its work focuses on preventing, combating and alleviating poverty, while improving access to food, shelter, healthcare, education, employment and social participation. Although rooted in Catholic social action, its services and advocacy are intended for people in need regardless of religion, political affiliation, gender or ethnicity. The organization traces its origins to a Caritas division created within the Swiss Catholic Association in 1901. A central office was established in Lucerne in 1919 after the First World War, initially coordinating Catholic relief for war-affected Europe, particularly assistance for children. The association was legally registered in 1927, after which it progressively brought together Catholic charitable institutions and developed a more centralized and professional operating model. During the interwar period, Caritas worked with a broad range of vulnerable groups, including children and young people, older people, people with disabilities, people affected by tuberculosis and people experiencing alcohol dependence. It also supported professional and religious training for staff working in institutions, homes and hospitals. The rise of Nazism and the refugee crises of the 1930s shifted a substantial part of its attention toward refugee assistance. By the end of the Second World War, it was caring for approximately 18,000 refugees. After 1945, Caritas expanded its refugee work to people arriving from the Eastern Bloc, including Hungarians after the 1956 revolution and Czechs and Slovaks following the Prague Spring. From the 1960s, emergency and disaster relief became increasingly important. Large appeals for international crises, including the Biafran War, generated major public support but also exposed organizational and administrative pressures, contributing to internal reforms in the early 1970s. Since the 1970s, Caritas Switzerland has operated as a multi-sector organization combining domestic social programs with international humanitarian, development and reconstruction work. From 1982, it placed greater emphasis on longer-term reconstruction rather than only short-term emergency assistance. In Switzerland, it works with 16 independent regional Caritas organizations. These bodies implement local social projects and cooperate on nationwide poverty-reduction initiatives, debt counseling, social integration and the Caritas social supermarkets. Internationally, the organization works through country offices and local partners; in 2023, its programs covered around 20 countries. Caritas Switzerland also uses public advocacy, fundraising and recognition programs to advance its mission. Its Prix Caritas has honored people active in social work, development cooperation and intercultural understanding since 2003. The organization is a member of Caritas Europa and Caritas Internationalis, linking its Swiss work to the wider Catholic humanitarian network.
History
Caritas Switzerland emerged from Swiss Catholic social action at the beginning of the twentieth century. A Caritas division was formed within the Swiss Catholic Association in 1901, modeled on the German Caritas Association. Fr. Rufin Steimer served as its first president. The early structure connected several Catholic charitable bodies but did not immediately unify the country’s diverse social organizations. After the First World War, a central office was created in Lucerne in 1919. Its initial mission was to coordinate Catholic relief for war-affected Europe, with children’s assistance a particular priority. The organization was legally registered in 1927 and gradually consolidated institutions and associations active in Swiss Catholic welfare. During this period, it professionalized its operations and developed a division of responsibilities between parish-level work and national coordination. In the interwar years, Caritas addressed the needs of children, young people, older people, people with disabilities, tuberculosis patients and people affected by alcohol dependence. It also supported training for personnel working in hospitals, homes and other social institutions. Curative-education institutions were founded in Lucerne in 1932 and at the University of Fribourg in 1936. The refugee crisis associated with the Nazi seizure of power transformed the organization’s priorities. A Commission for Catholic Refugee Aid was created in 1936. The annexation of Austria in 1938 caused the number of Catholic refugees requiring support to rise sharply. By 1945, Caritas was assisting roughly 18,000 refugees. The scale of post-war activity produced internal organizational strain. Leadership changes and a revision of the statutes followed in 1950. In the second half of the 1950s, the organization helped refugees from the Eastern Bloc, including approximately half of the more than 10,000 Hungarians who reached Switzerland after the failed 1956 uprising. It later assisted thousands of Czechs and Slovaks who received asylum after the Prague Spring in 1968 and 1969. During the 1960s, Caritas broadened its international role through emergency and disaster-relief appeals. It supported people affected by crises in India, Portugal, Romania, Sicily and Peru. Its response to the Biafran War between 1968 and 1970 raised more than 11 million Swiss francs. The size of that operation exceeded existing administrative capacity and contributed to further growth, followed by another internal crisis and the resignation of director Peter Kuhn in 1971. A new statutory revision and internal reform followed in 1972. By the 1970s and 1980s, Caritas Switzerland had become a multi-sector organization combining domestic social work, international disaster relief and development assistance. From 1982, it increasingly emphasized reconstruction and longer-term development rather than exclusively short-term emergency response. Its current structure combines the national organization with 16 independent regional Caritas organizations. Regional bodies deliver local services, while the national organization supports nationwide campaigns, policy work and international programs. Domestic activities include poverty reduction, social integration, debt counseling and social supermarkets. International programs are delivered through local offices and partner organizations in multiple regions. The Prix Caritas, established in 2003, complements this operational work by recognizing individuals contributing to social work, development cooperation and intercultural understanding.
- 2003
Prix Caritas launched
[1]Caritas Switzerland began awarding an annual prize for contributions to social work, development cooperation or intercultural understanding.
- 1982
Greater emphasis on reconstruction
[1]The organization shifted part of its international work from immediate emergency aid toward longer-term reconstruction.
- 1968
Biafran relief operation begins
[1]A major relief effort for victims of the Biafran War continued through 1970 and raised more than CHF 11 million.
- 1956
Hungarian refugee assistance
[1]Caritas assisted a substantial share of Hungarian refugees arriving in Switzerland after the failed revolution.
- 1936
Catholic Refugee Aid Commission founded
[1]Caritas created a dedicated commission as refugee needs grew in Europe.
- 1927
Association legally registered
[1]Legal registration supported the consolidation and professionalization of Catholic charitable work in Switzerland.
- 1919
Central office established in Lucerne
[1]The Lucerne office coordinated Catholic relief for war-affected Europe after the First World War.
- 1901
Caritas division established in Swiss Catholic Association
[1]A Swiss Caritas division was created within the Swiss Catholic Association, initiating the organization’s modern history.
Products and positioning
A Catholic-rooted but broadly accessible humanitarian and social-services organization combining practical assistance, poverty advocacy, refugee support and international relief.
Social services
Social supermarkets
Caritas social supermarkets help people experiencing poverty obtain everyday food and essential goods at reduced prices. They form part of the organization’s Swiss poverty-relief and social-integration work and are operated within the wider network of regional Caritas organizations.
Financial-social counseling
Debt counseling
Debt counseling provides practical support to people facing financial hardship. It is one of the local and national activities through which Caritas addresses poverty, financial exclusion and barriers to social participation in Switzerland.
International aid
Humanitarian and development programs
Caritas Switzerland implements emergency relief, development and reconstruction projects through local offices and partner organizations. Its international portfolio has included refugee assistance, disaster response, recovery and programs intended to strengthen longer-term access to livelihoods and social services.
Recognition program · 2003
Prix Caritas
The Prix Caritas recognizes individuals whose work advances social welfare, development cooperation or intercultural understanding. The award has honored humanitarian workers, educators, journalists, activists and other contributors to human dignity and social justice.
Marketing campaigns
- 1968Biafran War relief appeal
Switzerland · Nigeria
Caritas conducted a large fundraising and relief operation for victims of the Biafran War, raising more than CHF 11 million between 1968 and 1970.
Outcome. The appeal became one of the organization’s largest relief operations and exposed capacity constraints that contributed to subsequent organizational reform.
- 1967Flood-relief appeals
Switzerland · Portugal · Romania
Caritas appealed for support for flood victims in Portugal and Romania in 1967 and 1970.
- 1965India emergency appeal
Switzerland · India
Caritas organized an appeal supporting people affected by crisis in India.
Brand decisions
2003
Creation of the Prix CaritasOtherBackground
Caritas sought to recognize practical contributions to social welfare, development cooperation and intercultural understanding.
Action taken
It established the Prix Caritas as a recurring recognition program.
Aftermath
The prize became a public platform for highlighting humanitarian, social-justice and intercultural work.
1982
Shift toward reconstruction and longer-term aidStrategyBackground
Experience with repeated emergency appeals led Caritas to broaden its international approach beyond immediate disaster response.
Action taken
The organization redirected more effort toward reconstruction and longer-term development assistance.
Aftermath
Caritas developed into a multi-sector aid organization combining Swiss social services with international humanitarian and development work.
Recent events
- 2024
Prix Caritas not awarded[1]
Other
The organization did not award its Prix Caritas in 2024.
- 2023
Caritas Switzerland's international programs covered around 20 countries[1]
Other
The organization reported international projects across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, implemented through local offices and partner organizations.
- 2023
Prix Caritas awarded to Tetiana Stawnychy[1]
Other
Caritas Switzerland recognized the president of Caritas Ukraine for humanitarian assistance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- 2023
Caritas Norway-supported projects reached more than 955,000 people in 2023[3]
Other
The organisation reported that projects delivered through its international partner network reached more than 955,000 people in 2023, with the largest share associated with long-term development work.
- 2018
Caritas Norway reported expanded language and employment support[3]
Other
Caritas Norway reported that 12,000 migrant workers and refugees attended Norwegian-language courses and that 500 people received help finding employment.
- 2017
Caritas Norway launched an au pair centre[3]
Other
Caritas Norway established an au pair centre to provide support to au pairs and host families in Norway.
Sources4 sources
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