Peter's Pence: France Is the Second Largest Donor Worldwide

Donations

The report, which covers the past year, specifies that €54.3 million of the funds collected came from donations, while €3.7 million came from financial income.

Donations arrive at the Vatican in the form of collections taken up in parishes around the world on the occasion of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul and are forwarded to the Holy See by the dioceses of each country through papal representatives, as well as through direct deposits via wire transfers; and from bequests made in wills, expressing the specific wish to assign property, sums of money, or property rights to Peter’s Pence or directly to the pope.

Donors

Among the donors in 2024, 59% are dioceses (€31.8 million); followed by foundations (€12.2 million); 16% are private individuals (€8.9 million); and religious institutions come in last (€1.4 million).

“The countries with the highest donation amounts included the United States ranked first (25.2%), followed by France (15%), Italy (5.2%), Brazil (3%), and Germany (2.8%). Other donor countries included South Korea, Mexico, Ireland, Spain, Colombia,” and other nations around the world, in a lesser proportion: 15% of the total.

Contributions for the Mission of the Holy See

Regarding expenditures, of the €75.4 million in contributions, €61.2 million were allocated to support the activities of the Holy See in service of the pope's apostolic mission, and €13.3 million to directly support 239 aid projects for the most disadvantaged: initiatives in developing countries or social projects. Money was also distributed to populations affected by wars, to provide them with material assistance.

“Peter's Pence has thus financed the construction of a training and missionary center in Senegal, a parish church in Peru, and a hostel in Thailand.” 

As for social projects, these initiatives can take the form of training and support programs as well as material aid to support local communities: in Romania, Syria, Benin, West Africa, Cuba, Angola, and India, with activities and projects aimed at "rescuing, strengthening, and assisting the local churches."

A total of 239 projects were financed in 66 countries: Africa (64 projects), Europe (118 projects), the Americas (26 projects), Asia (29 projects), and Oceania (2 projects). Scholarships were awarded to priests, seminarians, and religious from Africa, Latin America, and Asia to study at pontifical universities.

The Pope's Apostolic Mission

“The final tables of the report show that how in 2024 the Holy See's expenses amounted to € 367.4 million of which approximately € 61.2 million (17%) was covered by Peter’s Pence. The Pope’s apostolic mission covers several areas, including support for local churches in difficulty, evangelization efforts, Apostolic Nunciatures, charity services, communicating the Gospel message, cultural heritage, academic institutions, human development, family life, education, science, and culture.”