Caritas St. Pölten mourns the loss of Werner Scholz: Pioneer of Charity

Caritas St. Pölten mourns the loss of Werner Scholz: Pioneer of Charity

St. Pölten, Österreich - The Caritas of the Diocese of St. Pölten mourns the loss of her former director Werner Scholz, who died on December 4, 2024 at the age of 92 at the St. Elisabeth Nursing Home in St. Pölten. In his over three decades, Scholz shaped the development of Caritas in the diocese and all of Austria crucial. He campaigned intensively for the development of house nursing and the care of people with disabilities and mental illnesses and promote foreign projects in countries such as Albania and Senegal. Today his comprehensive work by Hannes Ziselsberger, the current Caritas director, is recognized, which emphasizes that many of his decisions are still of great importance, and mentions that Scholz followed developments in Caritas until old age.

a life for charity

Werner Scholz, born on April 15, 1933 in Mödling, was more than just a director. He combined his professional career with social responsibility and passion for his work. In a book that "life is change", he reflected on his time with Caritas and the people who accompanied him. Scholz was not only a pioneer in Caritas, but also ensured an important foundation of social services in the region. His work was shaped by the basic attitude of charity, which forms the foundation of Caritas, a term that is derived from the Latin word "Carus" and symbolizes Christian love for people.

Nora Tödtling-Musenbichler, President of Caritas Austria, and Michael Landau, President of Caritas Europe, also recognized his merits, which extend far beyond the diocese. Scholz leaves not only a strong foundation for Caritas St. Pölten, but also a deeply rooted tradition of care and social responsibility, which is more important today than ever. In St. Pölten, Caritas was newly constituted under his leadership as a diocesan institute with a variety of social services, which contributed to the fact that Caritas had an enormous influence not only in the region, but also beyond borders. In order to learn more about the historical development and central tasks of Caritas, Caritas St. Pölten offers extensive information about the impressive history and the commitment of the organization.