Peter’s Pence: donations to Pope’s charity on the rise
Le Denier de Saint-Pierre publishes its annual information report for the 2023 financial year: compared to 2022, donations have increased by almost five million euros.
By Antonella Palermo
In 2023, the income from the Fund of the Pence of Saint-Pierre, intended to meet the needs of the universal Church and to support numerous initiatives in favor of the most needy, amounted to 52 million euros (48.4 million of offerings received and 3.6 million in financial income realized from the remuneration of assets), while expenses amounted to 109.4 million euros.
The United States, the greatest benefactor
Donations to the Pence of Saint-Pierre are received in three main forms:
1. The collection gathered in churches throughout the world on the occasion of the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, then transmitted to the Holy See by the Italian dioceses and, via the Pontifical Representations, by the overseas dioceses.
2. Direct offers sent by bank and postal transfers, checks or via the website with credit cards and PayPal
3. Bequests from inheritances.
In 2023, dioceses contributed €31.2 million, or 64.4% of revenues, while 4.4% (€2.1 million) came from private donors. In addition, foundations contributed €13.9 million (28.8%), with the remainder – €1.2 million/2.4% – coming from religious orders.
The United States was by far the largest benefactor, contributing €13.6 million, or 28.1% of total income, with the next largest contributions being Italy (€3.1 million). euros/6.4%) and Brazil (1.9 million euros/3.9%).
Financing of 236 projects in 76 countries
Of the 103 million euros disbursed by the Peter's Pence Fund in 2023, 90 million euros were used to support the activities carried out by the Holy See in service of the Pope's apostolic mission and 13 million to support projects of direct assistance to the most deprived: families, dioceses, parishes and religious institutes in need; migrants and refugees; populations affected by war and famine; communities affected by the harmful consequences of climate change; people in need of humanitarian assistance.
In 2023, the Peter's Pence Fund supported 236 projects in 76 countries, providing €13 million in funding. The Fund contributed €5.4 million to 68 projects in Africa, €2.4 million to 100 projects in Europe, €2.3 million to 34 projects in the Americas, €2.8 million to 33 projects in Asia and €0.1 million to 1 project in Oceania.
The report notes that, with regard to projects carried out in Europe, half a million euros were used to finance scholarships for priests, seminarians and religious from Africa, Latin America and from Asia to study at pontifical universities; while just under a million more was given to war-torn Ukraine to sponsor various pastoral and social initiatives.
An increase in donations
In 2022, the income of the Denier de Saint-Pierre amounted to 107 million (more than double the figure for 2023), while expenses amounted to 95.5 million. The report notes that a significant capital gain was made in 2022 thanks to the sale of the real estate assets of the Obolus Saint-Pierre Fund.
Indeed, in 2023, donations increased by almost five million euros, amounting to 48.4 million euros compared to 43.5 million euros of donations received in 2022.
Expenditures to support the Pope's apostolic mission amounted to 370.4 million euros, of which 90 million came from the Peter's Pence Fund. The funds were distributed among 68 dicasteries, entities and agencies of the Holy See.
