Pope Leo XIV on Saturday encouraged some of the wealthiest U.S. Catholics to continue their generous donations to support his charitable initiatives, during an audience that underscored how the election of the first American-born pope has revitalized the U.S. Catholic community and its contributions.
The Chicago-born pontiff met with members of The Papal Foundation, a major financier of papal development projects in developing countries, at the Apostolic Palace at the conclusion of their annual pilgrimage to Rome. In his address, Pope Leo expressed gratitude to the foundation's stewards for their generosity, stating that it has enabled "countless people to experience in a concrete fashion the goodness and kindness of God in their own communities."
He specifically highlighted the priests and nuns from impoverished nations who are able to pursue advanced degrees at Rome's pontifical universities, thanks to scholarships funded by the foundation's grants. Over the past four decades, these grants have totaled more than $270 million.
While contributions from The Papal Foundation to the Vatican remained robust during Pope Francis's 12-year pontificate, other donations to the Holy See declined sharply amid the global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other pressures. Some U.S. Catholics also became reluctant to donate to the Holy See following years of persistent reports of mismanagement, corruption, and scandal, as well as Francis's known criticism of American-style capitalism.
The election of Pope Leo appears to have reignited the U.S. church, particularly among its donor class. On Saturday, The Papal Foundation announced that its members had approved over $15 million in grants for 2026, a record in the foundation's 38-year history.
The foundation also revealed that 25 new families had joined it since Leo's election, marking the strongest indication yet that the election of an American, English-speaking pope—a mathematics major with a focus on the Vatican's financial health—has been beneficial for church fundraising.
"The growth we're seeing is incredibly encouraging, as it reflects a shared commitment to serve, to give, and to bring the church's mission to life in meaningful ways across the globe," said David Savage, the foundation's executive director, in a statement.
The foundation was established in 1988 by the late Cardinal John Krol of Philadelphia as a means for wealthy U.S. Catholics to directly fund the pope's charitable projects. To become a steward requires a $1 million gift to a fund that supports papal initiatives, such as building orphanages or monasteries.
For 2026, approved projects include the construction or renovation of a safe school for marginalized tribal children in India and professional technical training for vulnerable women in the Philippines.
The foundation currently includes all U.S. cardinals as members and is governed by a board of trustees composed of Catholic laypeople and bishops.
