“We want to be a synodal Church, a Church that moves forward, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close above all to those who are suffering.” Pope Leo XIV’s words, spoken on 8 May, open the Peter’s Pence Annual Disclosure 2024 and summarise a story of solidarity uniting Churches worldwide. The data capture a reality of numbers but above all of faces and stories: total income in 2024 amounted to €58 million, while expenditure reached €75.4 million. The majority of donations – €54.3 million – came from the annual parish collections on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, from direct donations and bequests. Specifically, 59% of resources came from dioceses (€31.8 million), 22% from foundations (€12.2 million), 16% from private donors (€8.9 million) and 3% from religious institutes (€1.4 million). The United States of America remains the most generous country, contributing €13.7 million (25.2%), followed by France (€8 million, 15%) and Italy (€2.8 million, 5.2%). This geography of generosity is enriched by contributions from Brazil, Germany, South Korea, Mexico, Ireland, Spain, Colombia and many other countries, reflecting a truly universal outreach.
(Foto Benotti/SIR)
Projects and areas of intervention
The collection has concretely supported the charitable and pastoral mission of the Holy Father: in 2024, 239 projects in 66 countries were funded, with a total of €13.3 million allocated to direct assistance initiatives for the most needy. “The Holy Father strives to provide material assistance to developing countries and to populations affected by wars,” the Report reads, “as well as to support, in various ways, the evangelising presence of parishes, dioceses, and religious institutes in situations of particular need.” The supported projects are divided into three main areas: extension of the evangelising presence (41% of funds, equal to €5.5 million), social projects (33%, €4.3 million), and support for local Churches in need (26%, €3.5 million). Interventions range from building churches and training centres to constructing girls’ hostels, rehabilitation facilities for people with disabilities, healthcare projects, support for Catholic universities, restoration of monasteries, and renovation of dormitories. Africa remains the most supported continent, receiving 43% of resources (€5.7 million), followed by Europe (25%, €3.3 million), Asia (17%, €2.3 million), the Americas (14%, €1.9 million), and Oceania (1%, €0.1 million). In Europe, in particular, scholarships were awarded to priests, seminarians and religious from Africa, Latin America and Asia, and humanitarian aid was sent to the Ukrainian population. The decision to allocate resources also through the Fund’s assets (€16.5 million) and financial income (€3.7 million) ensures continuity of interventions and responsiveness in emergencies.
(Foto Benotti/SIR)
Transparency and apostolic mission
In addition to charity and development projects, the Peter’s Pence Fund contributed €61.2 million to the activities of the Holy See in support of the Holy Father’s apostolic mission, covering 17% of total expenditure for 2024 (€367.4 million). The allocation of resources is broad and diversified: “support for local Churches in difficulty and specific contexts of evangelisation” (€24.4 million), “message diffusion” (€7.6 million), “charity services” (€6.2 million), “cult and evangelisation”, “organisation of ecclesial life”, “historic patrimony”, “academic institutions”, “human development”, “life and family”, “education, science and culture”. The Report notes that “the Holy Father, through the dicasteries of the Holy See, donated €37.3 million for charitable works (of which €6.2 million was financed by Peter’s Pence) which, together with the €13.3 million for direct assistance projects, amounts to a total of €50.6 million allocated to charitable works”. Transparency in management, careful reporting and constant reference to the Gospel mandate remain at the heart of the universal Church’s commitment. The 2024 journey of Peter’s Pence confirms the sign of a Church that “always seeks charity” and never tires of being close to those who suffer and are in need of hope.
