On June 28, 2025, the Spanish newspaper El Debate published an in-depth and thought-provoking interview with Juan Manuel Buergo, International President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. In it, he speaks candidly and firmly about some of the major challenges facing Catholic aid organizations today, especially the risk of secularization and the loss of their Christian identity. Below is a summary of the key points from the interview, along with a link to read the full text.

Juan Manuel Buergo says his Vincentian vocation didn’t come early in life—it arrived when he was 35, after the death of his father, who had been a military man and an active member of both Caritas and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. That moment led him to ask himself a life-changing question: “What have I done for others?” That inner restlessness pushed him to search for a more committed way to serve through the Gospel, and he found in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul a clear path forward.

Today, Juan Manuel serves as president of this major international organization, active in 155 countries, with an annual investment of more than 1.5 billion euros and over 2.3 million volunteers. But, as he often emphasizes, size and resources are not what matter most: “We’re not just another NGO,” he says firmly. The heart of the Society lies in its founding purpose: bringing both material and spiritual charity to the poor, recognizing the face of Christ in them.

The Society was founded in Paris in 1833 by a group of university students, including Blessed Antoine Frédéric Ozanam. It emerged as a lay-led, evangelizing response to the social needs of the time, predating other charitable organizations within the Church. Since then, it has maintained a distinct identity, independent from the Church’s hierarchy, although in many places it works closely with parishes. As its president puts it, “We are a lay Catholic work, in communion with the Church, but not dependent on it.”

One of the core ideas Juan Manuel repeats throughout the interview is that charity cannott be reduced to simply giving things away. “If all we do is hand out food and money, our conferences will disappear in the eyes of God,” he warns. For him, it is vital to preserve the spiritual dimension of volunteering, because Christian charity is about much more than solidarity. “Material help is necessary, but the Gospel is what gives meaning to what we do.”

From that perspective, he notes that in some parts of the world—including Europe—there is a risk of falling into an overly administrative or purely social view of charity. Without criticizing harshly, he acknowledges that “some Church-affiliated organizations have become secularized, limiting themselves to material assistance.” His concern is not about casting blame, but about issuing a gentle call to authenticity: “If we lose our spiritual roots, we lose what makes us unique.”

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul works in many areas: elder care, support for migrants, outreach to the sick, children at risk of exclusion, the homeless, those battling addictions, etc. In every case, the goal is not just to solve a problem, but to accompany people in their journey. The president sums it up clearly: “The key is to see each person as a brother or sister—not as a case file.”

One practice he values deeply is personal encounter. It is not just about giving—it is also about receiving. That is why volunteers often ask those they help to pray for them. “It changes the relationship. I am no longer just the giver and the other the recipient. We are two people meeting each other in God.”

He also emphasizes that volunteers should have a solid spiritual life. Formation, prayer, and reflection in community are pillars of Vincentian commitment. “Prayer and action go hand in hand. We are not just social workers—we are witnesses to the Gospel.”

Regarding the structure of the organization, he explains that it functions as a confederation: each country operates autonomously, but all share the same spiritual values. Among his most cherished role models is Santiago de Masarnau, the founder of the Society in Spain, whom he describes as a deeply faithful, cultured layman and a model of Christian commitment.

Looking to the future, Juan Manuel is clear. His hope is that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul continues to grow without losing its soul. Faced with the temptation to become overly institutionalized, he champions preserving the simple, personal, and hands-on style that has defined the Society since the beginning. “Our place is beside the poor—not behind a desk,” he says with conviction.

In the end, this interview offers a calm yet passionate testimony. Juan Manuel doesn’t idealize or dramatize, but he strongly reminds us that Christian charity only makes sense when it’s lived as a spiritual calling. The aid they offer is important, yes—but what matters most is how it is given: with faith, with closeness, with humility, and always with the Gospel at the center.

You can read the full interview in Spanish in El Debate by clicking here.

Juan Manuel B. Gómez, president of the SSVP, with Alfonso Bullón de Mendoza, president of the San Pablo CEU University Foundation and of the digital newspaper El Debate, and Regina Plañiol, corporate director of the presidency.