“Take part in the steps of Leo XIV with your donation to Peter’s Pence.”
With these words, the Vatican is encouraging Catholics to participate in the collection to support the Holy Father in his mission at the service of the universal Church.
At the end of June, most parishes hold the Peter’s Pence collection, a financial contribution that the faithful offer to the pontiff as an expression of support for the needs of the Catholic Church around the world and the charitable works it carries out.
The collection is taking place on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, which is celebrated Sunday, June 29.
According to a statement from the Vatican, Peter’s Pence also represents a gesture “of communion and participation in the pope’s mission to proclaim the Gospel, promote peace, and spread Christian charity.”
In support of this initiative, the Secretariat for the Economy and the Dicastery for Communion released a video presenting the “first steps” of Pope Leo XIV as successor to St. Peter.
FIND THE POPE’S BIOGRAPHY HERE
In the moving, short video above, images from the beginning of the Holy Father’s pontificate are shown, along with several significant quotes of his, taken in particular from his first greeting to the world from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
In 2023, the latest year for which data is available, 48.4 million euros (about $55.6 million) was raised compared with 43.5 million euros (about $50 million) the previous year, according to a statement from the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy.
These donations were supplemented by 3.6 million euros (about $4.1 million) in income from assets. However, expenses totaled 109.4 million euros (about $125.7 million).
Given this situation, on Feb. 26 Pope Francis created the “Commissio de donationibus pro Sancta Sede” (Commission for Donations to the Holy See), a new body to raise funds “for the mission and charitable works of the Apostolic See.” The commission will operate “ad experimentum” (on a trial basis) for the next three years, until 2028.
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This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
