President and Board

The President of the German Caritas Association is elected by the Assembly of Delegates. He is the Association’s official spokesperson to the Church and the public. The operations of the Association are overseen by the Board of three persons.

The President

Caritas-Präsident Prälat Dr. Peter Neher Prelate Dr. Peter NeherDCV / Anke Jacob

Prelate Dr. Peter Neher was elected President of the German Caritas Association in May 2003 and re-elected in 2009 and 2015. He was born in Pfronten in 1955. He is an ordained priest and has served as a hospital chaplain and as the Director of the Diocesan Caritas Association in Augsburg. In 2007 and 2008 he also was President of the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege (Germany's Federal Association of Non-Statutory Welfare). In June 2007, he was appointed Prelate of Honour of His Holiness. Since October 2012 Neher represents German Caritas in the Pontifical Council COR UNUM for Human and Christian Development.

‘Caring for our fellow human beings is an integral part of our faith. That is why many people become involved in Caritas. In parishes and in our centres and institutions, they make sure that people receive the assistance and support they need. Caritas means standing up for disadvantaged people in Germany and in many countries all over the world.’

The Board

The Board of the German Caritas Association currently consists of the President, the Director of Social Policy and Professional Policy and the Secretary General who also is the Head of Finances and Human Resources.

Hans Jörg Millies

Hans Jörg MilliesDCV / Anke Jacob

was elected the Financial Director and Personnel Manager by the Caritas Council in 2012 and the Secretary General in 2017. He was born in 1963 in Meschede.

'Social-economic enterprises render valuable services. In doing so, they are subject to high requirements in terms of quality and economic performance; often, they are confronted with different expectations and needs with respect to benefit recipients and act within heavily regulated markets. My task, among others, is to strengthen the social enterprises of Caritas in the context of the growing competition in terms of demand, human resources and finances. By closely collaborating with the other areas within the Board and in cooperation with the central specialised organisations, I want to contribute to making Caritas institutions and services able to meet the requirements they face sustainably and to the satisfaction of their users.'

Eva Maria Welskop-DeffaaDCV / Anke Jacob