Italian Caritas dioceses report sharp rise in poverty aid

The Caritas foundation of the Pescara diocese released its 2025 social report, documenting the distribution of 95,000 meals, accommodation for 291 people in the Cittadella dell’Accoglienza, and assistance to 460 families, totaling 1,499 beneficiaries. The report emphasizes the growing need for charity services and calls for broader societal solidarity.

The Caritas diocese of Pisa published its 2026 poverty observatory report, showing a 20.2% increase in people served in 2025, with 2,199 individuals directly assisted and a total of 4,591 beneficiaries when family members are included. Contact sessions rose to 25,699, averaging 12 visits per person, far above the 8,418 contacts recorded in 2024. The surge is described as atypical and not linked to new services, reflecting lingering effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic and broader economic hardship.