杏MAP导航 thanks The Papal Foundation for supporting Church鈥檚 mission

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis meets with a delegation of The Papal Foundation, and expresses his gratitude for its extensive charitable contributions to the Church鈥檚 work around the world.

By Devin Watkins

A 100-member-strong delegation of The Papal Foundation is on pilgrimage to Rome this week, meeting with 杏MAP导航 Francis on Thursday.

The 杏MAP导航 welcomed the Foundation鈥檚 members, trustees, and stewards to the Vatican, and thanked them for their 鈥済enerous support provided both to me and to the Church in so many areas of the world.鈥�

鈥淎s we celebrate the Lord鈥檚 victory over sin and death and His gift of new life in this holy season of Easter, it is my hope that the joy of the resurrection will always fill your hearts, and that your visit to the tombs of the apostles and martyrs will enhance your fidelity to the Lord and His Church.鈥�

Supporting integral development

杏MAP导航 Francis pointed out that The Papal Foundation has offered extensive financial support to promoting the 鈥渋ntegral development of so many of our brothers and sisters.鈥�

He especially appreciated the group鈥檚 support of 鈥渆ducational, charitable, and ecclesial projects,鈥� which help facilitate 鈥渢he Church鈥檚 ongoing efforts to build a culture of solidarity and peace.鈥�

鈥淵our charitable outreach continues to extend to those on the peripheries of society who live in material, and frequently spiritual, poverty.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis address the delegation

Spreading love, hope, mercy

The global situation of conflict, added the 杏MAP导航, invites them to offer care and humanitarian aid to the victims and refugees of war, especially those forced to flee their homeland in search of safety.

鈥淵our work,鈥� he said, 鈥渉elps to bring the love, hope, and mercy that the Gospel proclaims to all who benefit from your generosity and commitment.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis again expressed his gratitude to the Foundation for their generosity and commitment, and prayed that members might be renewed in their zeal for serving the Lord in those who suffer.

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Solidarity with the 杏MAP导航

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 noted that The Papal Foundation has always been animated by solidarity with the Successor of Peter.

So, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged them to pray for him and his ministry, as well as for the needs of the universal Church.

鈥淓ntrusting all of you, together with your families, to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in Christ our Risen Saviour.鈥�

Work of The Papal Foundation

According to its website, has helped finance the construction of 358 churches and chapels, 170 seminaries, 404 rectories and convents, 273 schools, and 104 hospitals.

Founded in the United States in 1988, the Foundation has provided over $200 million in grants and scholarships to more than 2,000 projects in coordination with the Bishop of Rome.