New Vatican Report Reveals Top Donors and How Pope Leo XIV's Charitable Aid Reaches Around the World - Peter’s Pence Annual Report

The Holy See has released its 2025 annual report for Peter’s Pence, the Pope’s primary fund for global charity and the universal mission of the Church. Last year, the fund received €57.6 million in donations, driving critical humanitarian aid, education, and spiritual infrastructure across 74 countries.
Financial Overview: Income vs. Expenditures
While the fund brought in €57.6 million, total expenditures reached €59.8 million (with the deficit primarily driven by foreign currency exchange fluctuations).
A total of €54.5 million was directly disbursed across two main pillars:
€41.2 million (75.6%): Supported the Holy See’s dicasteries and institutions in service of the Pope’s global apostolic mission.
€13.3 million (24.4%): Funded direct assistance, social projects, and local church infrastructure for those most in need.
Where the Money Comes From
Donations reach the Holy See through parish collections on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, direct web/PayPal contributions, bank transfers, and legal bequests.
| Source Type | Percentage of Total Revenue |
| Dioceses Worldwide | 63.6% |
| Private Donors, Foundations, & Religious Orders | 36.4% |
Top Contributing Nations
The United States leads global giving, accounting for 26.1% of total donations. The other top-tier donor nations include:
United States
Italy
Brazil
Republic of Korea
Germany
France
Spain
Impact on the Ground: 252 Projects in 74 Countries
The €13.3 million allocated for direct aid was distributed heavily across Africa, Asia, and Europe to fund 252 distinct initiatives. These are divided into three primary sectors:
1. Expanding the Evangelizing Presence
Building physical spaces to help young or struggling local churches grow.
Sri Lanka: Construction of a convent in Mannar.
Egypt: Building a new parish church in Hagaza.
Burkina Faso: Construction of a pastoral center in Kaya.
2. Social Projects & Emergency Relief
Providing education, training, and emergency material aid to vulnerable communities and war-torn regions.
War Zones: Direct humanitarian aid dispatched to Ukraine and Gaza.
India: Construction of classrooms specifically for Dalit girls in Ambikapur.
South Sudan: Building a new secondary school in Bentiu.
3. Institutional Support for Local Dioceses
Supporting the infrastructure and living quarters of clergy in mission territories.
Myanmar: Construction of a priests' guesthouse in Pathein.
Haiti: Renovation of the St. Jerome presbytery in Gonaïves following local hardships.
Zambia: Upgrades to the St. Augustine Major Seminary in Kabwe.
Global Education: Funded pontifical university scholarships for priests, seminarians, and religious sisters from Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
The Bigger Picture: The Holy See's total gross expenditures to support the Pope's mission across all departments reached €404.5 million in 2025. The €41.2 million provided by Peter’s Pence successfully covered roughly 10% of these total operating costs, including €148.7 million dedicated purely to helping local dioceses currently facing severe financial or political distress.
Source: https://www.vaticannews.va/it/vaticano/news/2026-06/obolo-di-san-pietro-rapporto-annuale.html
Vatican Media Image from Pope Leo XIV's Visit to the Canary Islands
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