charité

Charité, in French and related languages, designates both the theological virtue of love and benevolence toward others, and the acts or institutions dedicated to alleviating human needs. The term comes from Latin caritas, via Old French charité, and is cognate with the English word charity. In Christian theology, charity is one of the theological virtues, alongside faith and hope, and is understood as love that manifests in actions toward God and neighbor.

Charité as practice encompasses personal acts of kindness as well as organized welfare. Historically, medieval and early modern Europe saw almsgiving, confraternities, hospitals, and endowments funded by churches and nobles. The development of civil society and modern welfare systems expanded charitable activity into specialized organizations and nonprofit bodies focused on poverty relief, education, health care, and social services. In many countries, charitable organizations operate within legal frameworks that govern governance, accountability, and tax eligibility.

Today, the term charité remains common in French-speaking contexts to refer to charitable actions and organizations. In English, charity often denotes charitable organizations and the act of giving, while in Catholic and some Protestant traditions charity retains its theological sense as love in action. Notable institutions bearing the name include Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a leading university hospital founded in the 18th century as a charitable medical institution and now a major center for research and clinical care.