On Sunday, June 5th 2016, all the National Presidents of countries where the society is present in the world met in order to elect their new International President for the following six years. 

This Sunday Renato Lima de Oliveira was elected new International President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, succeeding Michael Thio. In the coming weeks, the main task for the new Brazilian President shall be to name the members of his new administrative body and, together with his new team, to set up a strategic action plan for the following six years. The main subjects to be dealt with are the following: the international growth of SSVP, training, youth, communication, special projects, twinnings and spiritual life. Renato Lima de Oliveira shall take office on September 27th 2016, feast of Saint Vincent de Paul. 

The goal of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is to radiate solidarity and mutual aid around the world, following an ambitious wager by its founder, Frederic Ozanam, who wished to ‘embrace the world in a network of charity’. Today, 800,000 volunteers are mobilised in more than 140 countries fighting against isolation, or even in humanitarian emergencies.

The International General Council is the link among the member countries of the SSVP. Its mission is to support the work of National Councils around the world. It enables the transfer of know-how, the training of leaders and it encourages twinnings which help to establish links of solidarity and financial support for development projects and for humanitarian disasters. It ensures the proper functioning of international meetings taking place yearly. The SSVP is recognised as a Non-Governmental Organisation within the United Nations.