ACN funded 5,368 projects in 141 countries during 2025
The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) received €145.8 million in donations and legacies and supported one in every ten priests and one in every eight seminarians worldwide
Thanks to the generosity of 363,176 benefactors around the world, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was able to fund 5,368 projects in 141 countries during 2025.
Income from donations and legacies amounted to €145.8 million, enabling ACN to respond positively to thousands of requests for assistance from Christian communities in need, supporting pastoral work, formation programmes, the construction of Church infrastructure and emergency assistance in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
Globally, India was the country that received the most support from ACN in 2025, followed by Ukraine, Lebanon and Syria. This assistance helped sustain Christian communities facing discrimination, persecution, war and severe economic hardship.
“Without our benefactors, none of this would be possible. Thanks to their generosity, the Church was able to remain a sign of hope for millions of people living in contexts of poverty, war, discrimination and persecution,” said Regina Lynch, Executive President of ACN.
Among the most significant areas of this support was the assistance to 40,207 priests through the provision of 1,887,721 Mass stipends, benefiting approximately one in every ten priests worldwide. This is the highest value ever registered by ACN in a year. For many priests in poor countries or conflict zones, this support made it possible to continue their ministry and secure their basic livelihood.
The charity also supported the formation of 13,368 seminarians, equivalent to one in every eight future priests in the world. Africa accounted for the largest share of this support, with more than 8,300 seminarians receiving assistance, reflecting the growth of the Church across the continent.
In addition, approximately 20,000 religious sisters benefited directly or indirectly from ACN-funded projects, including support of formation, subsistence aid, construction projects and means of transport.
ACN also distributed 520,816 religious books worldwide, including more than 111,000 copies of Bibles and New Testaments and over 214,000 publications from the YOUCAT series.
In terms of geography, Africa received the largest share of ACN’s aid, accounting for 34.5% in total. The spread of Islamist terrorism, forced displacement and the rapid growth of Christian communities accounts for this priority. In countries particularly affected by violence, such as Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, support increased significantly during the past year.
The Middle East received 17.1% of total aid. Lebanon, Syria and Iraq were among the countries receiving the greatest support from the charity in 2025. More than 80% of all emergency aid provided by ACN worldwide was directed to this region due to ongoing armed conflicts and their humanitarian consequences.
Asia and Oceania received 19% of total aid, while Latin America received 16.4%, primarily to address challenges such as the shortage of priests, large-scale migration and the difficulties faced by the Church in many countries across the region.
In addition to supporting the formation and sustenance of clergy, the charity funded hundreds of projects for the construction and renovation of churches, seminaries, convents and pastoral centres, as well as formation programmes for catechists and committed lay people, who play an essential role in areas where priests are scarce.
The Annual Report, approved by ACN’s Supervisory Board during its meeting in Rome on 25 June and audited by PwC, shows that 78.7% of total expenditure was dedicated to mission-related activities. Within this category, 83.4% financed projects directly, while the remaining 16.6% supported information activities, faith formation and advocacy on behalf of persecuted and suffering Christians. Administrative expenses represented 8.5% of total expenditure, while 12.8% was allocated to benefactor care and fundraising.
Founded in 1947, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is a pontifical foundation that supports the pastoral mission of the Church wherever Christians suffer persecution, discrimination or lack the resources necessary to live and share their faith.
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