Pope Francis Thanks The Papal Foundation For Support

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis Friday received in audience members of The Papal Foundation, who are in Rome on their annual pilgrimage.

Founded in the United States in 1988, The Papal foundation was established as an endowment to support the mission of the Holy Father. In recent years, the endowment has grown to over $220 million, with a total of $111 million awarded in grants and scholarships.

“The wide variety of projects supported by the Foundation gives witness to the ceaseless efforts of the Church to promote the integral development of the human family, conscious as she is of the immense and ongoing needs of so many of our brothers and sisters,” Pope Francis said.

He also commended the wisdome of the Foundation in devoting a “sizeable percentage” of its resources to the education and formation of young priests, religious and laymen and women in places where the local churches are in need of help.

The Holy Father said this support would help hasten the day when these Churches may be self-supportive “and, indeed, pass on the fruits of such generosity to others.”

Recalling the upcoming Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis concluded by expressing his sincere hope that each of the members of The Papal Foundation and their families would experience “the healing and freedom that come from the encounter of forgiveness and gratuitous love offered in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist.”

Diane Montagnais Rome correspondent for Aleteia’s English edition.