Pope Francis welcomes Papal Foundation delegation
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with a delegation from the Papal Foundation on Friday. The Papal Foundation was founded in 1988 as a response to the desire of US Catholics – both clergy and laity – to create a permanent means of support for the Holy Father and his mission of witness in the world.
In remarks prepared for the Foundation’s pilgrims and delivered on Friday, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for the efforts of the Foundation in behalf of many initiatives. “I am deeply appreciative,” he said, “of the assistance which the Foundation has given to the Church in developing countries through grants supporting various educational, charitable and apostolic projects, but also for the scholarships which you make available to laity, priests and religious for study here in Rome.”
Pope Francis went on to say, “In this way, you help to ensure the training of a new generation of leaders whose minds and hearts are shaped by the truth of the Gospel, the wisdom of Catholic social teaching and a profound sense of communion with the universal Church in her service to the entire human family.”
To date, the Foundation has been able to create a fund that has grown to over $200 million, and awarded nearly $100 million in grants and scholarships to Catholic missions and causes around the world, especially in places where the Church is poor or struggling.
Over the past two years, the Papal Foundation has also moved to increase its annual gift to the Holy Father to $15 million by the year 2019.
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