The Obolo of San Pedro, the fund destined to sustain the universal mission of the Pope and his charitable works in favor of the most needy, raised a total of 58 million euros in 2024, which represents six million more than in 2023, according to the economic report published this Friday by the Holy See.
This Sunday the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul and for this reason all the faithful are invited to make a donation for the Obolo of St. Peter, the Pope’s Charity Fund. This year the collection carries by motto: “Be part of the steps of Leo XIV, make your donation to the Obolus of San Pedro.”
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Therefore, the Vatican has made public the results of the collection of 2024 in which it is also evident that, despite the increase in donations, total expenses amounted to 75.4 million, which generated a deficit of 17.4 million euros.
According to the document presented, this difference was covered by financial income and the use of the assets of the fund itself.
In any case, it is a fact that the obol has raised more from the donations of the faithful than in the previous year, in 2023, when about 52 million euros entered.
These figures are far from 2022, when 107 million euros were collected and 95.5 million were invested. It must also be said that the volume of income of 2022 increased considerably due to an important surplus value, due to the sale of real estate.
The first time a report was made public with these data was in 2021, when the contributions were 46.9 million and 65.3 million euros were spent.
Where donations come from
The bulk of income (54.3 million euros) came from donations made by diocese (59%), individuals (16%), foundations (22%) and religious orders (3%).
By countries, the United States led contributions with 13.7 million euros, 25.2 % of the total, followed by France (€ 8), Italy (€ 2.8 m), Brazil, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Ireland, Spain and Colombia.
Donations were received through the diocesan collections in the solemnity of San Pedro and San Pablo, direct contributions by digital means – like the official website of the obol – and testamentary legacies.
What was the money spent?
The total expenses of the fund were 75.4 million euros, including 74.5 million in contributions granted and 0.9 million in other financial expenses.
Of the 74.5 million euros in contributions granted, 61.2 million were destined to sustain the activities of the Pope and the Holy See – such as Nunciatures, Dicasteries and Vatican Media -, and 13.3 million were dedicated to direct projects of assistance to those needed in 66 countries.
Direct assistance projects: 239 initiatives in 66 countries
In 2024, El Obolo de San Pedro financed 239 projects in 66 countries around the world, with a priority approach in Africa with 64 projects and 5.7 million euros invested. In fact, this continent concentrated the highest percentage (43%of the budget), followed by Europe (25%), Asia (17%), America (14%) and Oceania (1%).
The annual report stands out that in Europe, where 118 projects were carried out and 3.3 million euros were invested, study scholarships were granted to priests, seminarians and religious from Africa, Latin America and Asia, allowing them to access training in pontifical universities. In addition, humanitarian aid funds were allocated to attend the Ukrainian population, affected by war.
Among the most prominent projects are: the construction of a missionary center in Senegal, the building of a parish in Peru, the creation of a girls in Girls in Thailand, the construction of a rehabilitation building for people with disabilities in Romania, the implementation of a health care program for vulnerable families in Syria and the restoration of a monastery in Cuba.
Hold the universal mission of the Pope
Obolus also contributed 61.2 million euros to the support of the Pope’s apostolic mission, which includes support for local churches in difficulty, the management of Vatican diplomacy, evangelizing communication and historical heritage.
The expenses in this section totaled 367.4 million euros in 2024, so the obol covered approximately 17% of the total, that is, 61.2 million euros. The largest covered items were allocated to the support of local churches (€ 24.4 m), evangelizing communication projects (€ 7.6 m), to the support of apostolic nunciatures (€ 6.5 m) already charity works (€ 6.2 m).
The Holy See underlines in the statement that the Obolo of St. Peter is not only an emergency fund, but a specific tool of ecclesial solidarity, through which the faithful of the whole world hold the work of the Pope in its spiritual, diplomatic, pastoral and charitable dimension.
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.