The organisation's president, Eugénio Fonseca, has noted that “the Portuguese have been faced in recent years with many demands, cuts and fears”, and in many cases have been “obliged to rethink their life” and others to “remake it under new and more demanding criteria”.

The anniversary, he said, is an opportunity to "remember that whole effort and all the struggles that have been undertaken for our country and in which Cáritas was called" to take part. "We also want to express our joy for all those that we have managed to serve with dignity, building with everyone the hope of a more human life."

Fonseca noted that the celebrations coincide with International Human Right Day.

“By choosing this day we want reaffirm that our action will always be guided by the realisation of human rights, inspired by values that, in this Christmas season, should be put first, such as the gift of life and the construction of justice, since it is only by sharing that we can be happier," he said.

Cáritas Portuguesa is based in Lisbon and currently works in 20 dioceses across Portugal.