A Delaware County-based foundation, one that works under the Holy Father’s leadership to help the Catholic Church in areas of the greatest need, has announced $14 million in grants and humanitarian aid to fund Church projects in developing countries.
The Papal Foundation is also granting scholarships to allow more than 100 priests, women in religious life and seminarians to study in Rome and the Vatican.
“The grants each year, including this year, go to the poor and the needy across a wide range of circumstances in Third World and emerging nations,” said Papal Foundation Board of Trustees President Ward Fitzgerald, who just returned to Philadelphia after time in Vatican City, a trip that included the funeral of Pope Francis.
“They include hospitals, orphanages, schools. They include programs that assist children that are being trafficked, either for sexual or drug smuggling purposes. They include programs and facilities that help refugees (with) humanitarian aid in war-torn areas and countries that are either directly (at) war, or are adjacent to war, and are experiencing refugee problems.”
Fitzgerald and Executive Director Dave Savage explained that the Holy See’s Secretariat of State reviews requests from around the world, with a goal to reflect the the intentions of the pope and the needs of the Church.
The requests lead to grants allocated by the Chester-based foundation, one initially launched in 1988 by St. John Paul II through his relationship with then-Philadelphia Archbishop Emeritus, Cardinal John Krol.
Fitzgerald, who is also CEO of ExCorde Capital, added that these investments aim to bring the love of Christ to those most in need.
“This year, the disbursement of funds is in tribute to the big heart and loving legacy of Pope Francis,” Fitzgerald said. “The Stewards of St. Peter are honored to support the Holy Father’s vision, responding to urgent needs across the globe and reflecting a prayerful commitment to care for the vulnerable, strengthen the Church, and share the hope of the Gospel in developing nations.”
“The Gospel of Matthew teaches us, ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,’” New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who was recently elected the Board of Trustees’ chairman, said in a statement..
“In a world where the distance between wealth and need continues to widen, the Stewards of St. Peter of the Papal Foundation take seriously their responsibility to serve the poor and vulnerable with compassion and faith.”
A main theme of Pope Francis’ papacy was merciful outreach to the poor and marginalized. Such missionary impulse to compassionate service has always driven the Papal Foundation’s actions, since all succeeding popes have responded to Christ’s call to compassionate care.
“This particular Holy Father had a great heart for the poor and for humanitarian aid, for refugees, through migrants and the like, so I think there’s probably an ounce more of capital that went to some of those types of requests than in the past,” Fitzgerald said.
“But I think if you really looked at the requests of the Holy See over the last decade or two, the requests would be significantly similar.”
While the 116 grant recipients hail from around the world, the Papal Foundation has strong local ties.
Four members of the Board of Trustees live in Philadelphia, with three others from New Jersey.
“The grants chair is a Philadelphian, Dr. Tammy Tenaglia, who’s had the role for several years now. She does a great job,” said Savage.
“We get around 160 grant requests annually from the Holy See, of which we try to approve as many as we can. The committee reads each one. Tammy does a terrific job leading that process, which takes place in a short amount of time, every fall.”
The 116 grants came at the direction of Pope Francis, but the foundation is preparing for the process with Pope Leo XIV as he discerns how best to make a difference where it’s most needed.
The next grants and scholarships will augment the 280 projects already funded by $250 million that the foundation has given since its inception.
“There are already plans well laid in the next few months for stewards like Ward to visit Guatemala and Mexico, to see grant recipients where the money is put into action,” Savage said. “Plans are also being laid for trips to Ecuador and Tanzania, where these stewards would be able to meet the people who the grants are impacting.”
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