Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) received $230.2 million in donations and legacies. Among others, it supported one in ten priests and one in eight seminarians worldwide.
Thanks to the generosity of 363,176 benefactors around the world, Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) was able to fund 5,368 projects in 141 countries in 2025.
Income from donations and legacies amounted to $230.2 million and allowed for a favourable response to thousands of requests for assistance from Christian communities in need, including pastoral work, formation programs, the construction of Church infrastructure, and emergency aid 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.
Benefactors in Canada can view and download the 2025 Annual Report at ACN Information – Annual Report.
One of the most significant areas of support was assisting 40,207 priests through the provision of 1,887,721 Mass intentions, 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 various projects funded by ACN, including 6,200 who received subsistence aid. The remainder of the support went towards ongoing formation and retreats, sewing and host-baking machines, construction projects, and means of transport.
Aid to the Church in Need 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 rise of Islamist terrorism, forced displacement — and yet the rapid growth of Christian communities — all account 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 that received 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 of clergy and providing for their basic needs, the charity funded hundreds of projects for the construction and renovation of churches, seminaries, convents, and pastoral centres, as well as formation programs 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 June 25 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, evangelization, and advocacy activities on behalf of persecuted and suffering Christians. Administrative expenses represented 8.5% of total expenditure, while 12.8% was allocated to benefactor relations and outreach.
Founded in 1947, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is a pontifical charity that supports the pastoral mission of the Church wherever Christians suffer persecution, discrimination, or lack the resources necessary to live and share their faith.
Benefactors in Canada can view and download the 2025 Annual Report at ACN Information – Annual Report.
