A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND SOLIDARITY
Since its creation in 1979, Caritas Middle East and North Africa (MONA) has been a living testimony of Christian charity, serving communities across fifteen countries from Iran to Mauritania. Rooted in the Gospel and the Church’s social teaching, Caritas MONA stands for human dignity, dialogue, and fraternal cooperation.
Over the decades, the region has faced wars, displacement, natural disasters, and social challenges, yet Caritas MONA and its member organizations have remained steadfast in their mission to bring hope, promote peace, and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable.
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The MONA Region of Caritas Internationalis was officially established during the 11th General Assembly in Rome in 1979. Since then, it has grown into a strong network of national Caritas organizations in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
From emergency relief and social development to education, health, and migration support, Caritas MONA continues to embody the Church’s mission of love and service across a region marked by diversity, resilience, and faith.
Key moments in our history
1979
MONA region was created as the sixth Region of the Caritas Confederation during the 11th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis (CI).
1983
The first statutes of Caritas MONA were drafted.
1979 to 1987
First President of the MONA region: Archbishop Henri Teissier from Caritas Algeria as the headquarters of Caritas MONA was in Algiers
1987
The “Regional Secretariat” was moved to Beirut, Lebanon
1991 to 1995
The first Regional Commission was formed. Father Henri Boulad, s.j. was the regional president from Caritas Egypt and the headquarters of Caritas MONA was in Cairo, Egypt.
1995 to 1999
The headquarters of Caritas MONA was established in Beirut, Lebanon, where it would remain. Its first meeting took place from October 6 to 9, 1995, in Beirut, in which the role of the Regional Commission was clarified.
1999
Ms. Claudette Habesch from Caritas Jerusalem was the first woman to serve as a Regional President, Vice-President of CI, and a member of CI’s Bureau
2007
The MONA Region’s bodies and their roles were formally defined: the Regional Conference, the Regional Commission, the Zones, and the Regional Secretariat. The three official zones are: the Middle East, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
2024
The Caritas organizations officially constituting the MONA region are: Algeria, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Syria, and Tunisia. The Gulf countries are considered to fall under the responsibility of Caritas MONA, although none currently have a diocesan or national Caritas.
