The Augustinian Recollect family congratulates Msgr. Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA, on his appointment as Almoner of His Holiness and Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity.
The Augustinian Recollect family congratulates Msgr. Luis Marín de San Martín
The Augustinian Recollect family has expressed its congratulations and closeness to His Excellency Msgr. Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA , following his appointment as Almoner of His Holiness and Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, announced by the Press Office of the Holy See in bulletin no. 194 of March 12, 2026.
The Holy Father has entrusted this responsibility to the current Undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod, titular bishop of Suliana, granting him at the same time the dignity of archbishop. With this appointment, Msgr. Marín de San Martín assumes leadership of one of the most significant bodies of the Pope’s charitable service to the poor and most vulnerable in the world.
The Pope’s ministry of charity
The Dicastery for the Service of Charity is the institution of the Holy See responsible for providing, in the name of the Roman Pontiff, direct assistance to those living in situations of poverty, marginalization, or vulnerability.
This mission constitutes a concrete expression of the Church’s mercy, which, beginning with the poorest and most excluded, promotes initiatives of assistance and relief. Through this dicastery, the Pope manifests his pastoral closeness to those suffering from poverty, as well as to victims of calamities and humanitarian emergencies.
The dicastery also has the competence to receive, seek, and promote donations intended to support the charitable works that the Holy Father carries out on behalf of the most needy throughout the world.
A recent dicastery with a long tradition
Although the Dicastery for the Service of Charity was formally instituted in 2022 by Pope Francis through the apostolic constitution Praedicate evangelium, its mission is rooted in a very ancient tradition of the Church.
The so-called Apostolic Almonry has existed since the early centuries of Christianity, when deacons had among their functions the direct care of the poor. Over time, this responsibility was entrusted to members of the pontifical household.
As early as the 13th century, during the pontificate of Blessed Gregory X (1271-1276), its attributions were formally organized. Subsequently, various pontiffs regulated its functioning and reinforced its role in the Pope’s service of charity.
At present, the prefect of the dicastery—the Almoner of His Holiness—possesses archiepiscopal dignity, is part of the Pontifical Household, and participates in the liturgical celebrations and official audiences of the Holy Father.
A “first aid” of the Church’s charity
The mission of this body is situated at the very heart of the Gospel. As Pope Francis frequently recalls, the Church is called to be a “field hospital”, close to the wounds of humanity.
In this sense, the Dicastery for the Service of Charity acts as a concrete arm of the Pope’s mercy, mobilizing quickly to help those going through situations of grave difficulty.
Among its functions is also the granting of the Apostolic Blessing through parchment diplomas, a practice dating back to the pontificate of Leo XIII. The contributions received on the occasion of these parchments are destined entirely to the charitable works of the Holy Father.
A service to the heart of the Church
The appointment of Msgr. Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA , to lead this dicastery represents recognition of his trajectory of service in the Church and a particularly significant responsibility in the life of the Roman Curia.
From the Augustinian Recollect family, prayers are offered that the Lord may accompany his ministry in this new mission in service to the Pope and the poorest, a visible sign of the Church’s charity in the world.
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