Pope Leo XIV celebrates record $15M grants for global Catholic projects
Pope Leo XIV met with members of The Papal Foundation on Saturday to celebrate its growing impact. The foundation has approved a record $15 million in grants for 2026, supporting projects worldwide. Among them are a safe school for tribal children in India and technical training for vulnerable women in the Philippines.
Since his election, the first U.S.-born pope has inspired renewed generosity, with 25 new families joining the foundation in the past year. The organisation, now in its 38th year, has donated over $270 million to the Vatican in total.
Founded in 1988, The Papal Foundation is led by U.S. cardinals and a board of Catholic laypeople and bishops. Membership as a steward requires a $1 million contribution. Over the decades, its funding has helped priests and nuns from poor countries study at Rome’s pontifical universities.
The latest grants mark the highest amount ever approved in a single year. Projects include educational and vocational initiatives aimed at marginalised communities. Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude for the foundation’s work, stating that its support allows people to experience God’s kindness in practical ways. The election of the first American pope has notably energised U.S. donors. In the past year alone, 25 new families have become stewards, further expanding the foundation’s reach. Their contributions will fund critical programmes, from schooling for tribal children in India to skills training for at-risk women in the Philippines.
The foundation’s 2026 grants will fund essential projects across multiple countries. With $15 million allocated, its work continues to grow under Pope Leo XIV’s leadership. The increased support reflects a broader revival in U.S. Catholic philanthropy since his election.
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