It was formed by uniting various fragmented and uncoordinated Church-organised charitable activities into a single, cohesive organisation with a national headquarter and regional branches within different Catholic dioceses.

Originally named the St. Elizabeth Charity Centre (Hungarian: Szent Erzsébet Karitász Központ), its primary aim was to unify and coordinate the activities of various Catholic charitable organisations across the country.

It provided support to the families of soldiers, compiled war relief information for parishes, and offered assistance to refugees and bomb victims.

With foreign donations, the organisation conducted large-scale relief operations, distributing financial aid, clothing, food, and shelter to refugees, orphans, and other vulnerable groups.

[4] The organisation's international efforts include aiding victims of the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka and providing substantial support during the 2010 floods in Hungary's Borsod County, as well as after the 2020 Petrinja earthquake in Croatia.

[7] Caritas Hungary continues to operate numerous social institutions nationwide, serving addicts, the homeless, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.

During the 2015 European refugee crisis, the organisation provided critical aid, including distributions of supplies and medical care, to thousands of migrants passing through Hungary.