{"id":2453621,"date":"2025-06-30T00:03:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T04:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-leo-xiv-marks-feast-day-as-vatican-launches-campaign-to-help-erase-its-57-million-68-million-deficit-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-06-30T00:08:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T04:08:01","slug":"pope-leo-xiv-marks-feast-day-as-vatican-launches-campaign-to-help-erase-its-57-million-68-million-deficit-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-leo-xiv-marks-feast-day-as-vatican-launches-campaign-to-help-erase-its-57-million-68-million-deficit-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope Leo XIV marks feast day as Vatican launches campaign to help erase its $57 million-$68 million deficit &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">42<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpope-leo-xiv-marks-feast-day-as-vatican-launches-campaign-to-help-erase-its-57-million-68-million-deficit-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2453621&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Pope Leo XIV celebrated a special feast day on June 29, enhancing the Vatican&#8217;s appeal for donations to address its critically important financial deficit, estimated between $57 million and $68 million. During a Mass at st. Peter&#8217;s Basilica, Pope Leo highlighted the importance of the Peter&#8217;s Pence collection, which typically funds the Vatican&#8217;s operations and charitable efforts. This year, in a move reminiscent of american fundraising techniques, the campaign includes promotional videos and various online donation methods.<\/p>\n<p>Pope Leo expressed gratitude for the donations received, calling them a sign of unity with his leadership. The Peter&#8217;s Pence fund has faced challenges, including reduced contributions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and financial mismanagement. Donations dipped below $51 million in 2022 before rising to approximately $57 million in 2023. With rising expenses, though, there remains an urgent need for improved financial oversight.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the Vatican faces a $1.17 billion shortfall in its pension fund, emphasizing the necessity of increasing revenue from donations, investments, and other activities as it does not rely on taxation. Church officials aim to reassure donors about the responsible management of their contributions under Leo&#8217;s pontificate.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Pope Leo XIV marks feast day as Vatican launches campaign to help erase its $57 million-$68 million deficit<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2130014\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>ROME (AP) &mdash;<\/strong> Pope Leo XIV on Sunday celebrated a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >special feast day traditionally<\/a> used by the <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/catholic-church\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Catholic Church<\/a> to drum up donations from the faithful, with the <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vatican\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Vatican<\/a> under the&nbsp;first American pope&nbsp;rolling out a new campaign to urge ordinary <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/catholicism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Catholics<\/a> to help bail out the deficit-ridden Holy See.<\/p>\n<p>Leo celebrated Mass in St. Peter&rsquo;s Basilica, marking the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, during which he gave the pallium woolen stole to 54 new archbishops. He thanked donors who have contributed to the church, using the language of the publicity campaign to say their financial support was a sign of union with his young pontificate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3457656\/netanyahu-corruption-trial-delayed-after-trump-blasted-case\/\">Netanyahu corruption trial delayed shortly after Trump blasted case<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3457614\/iran-uranium-enrichment-resume-months-un-nuclear-chief-grossi-iaea\/\">Iranian uranium enrichment could resume in months, UN nuclear chief says<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3457515\/trump-fordow-uranium-not-moved-before-us-strikes\/\">Trump says Iranians moved themselves, not uranium, before US strikes: &#8216;Trying to live&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In churches around the world, Masses on the June 29 feast day often include a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-clinton-project-presents-nepotism\/\" title=\"The Clinton Project Presents: \u2018Nepotism\u2019\">special collection<\/a> for&nbsp;Peter&rsquo;s Pence, a fund which both underwrites the operations of the central government of the Catholic Church and pays for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-dropping-most-jan-6-obstruction-charges-in-pending-cases-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"DOJ dropping most Jan. 6 obstruction charges in pending cases - Washington Examiner\">pope&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s personal acts of charity.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vatican American-style fundraising pitch<\/h2>\n<p>With a promotional video, poster, QR code, and website soliciting donations via credit card, PayPal, bank transfer, and post office transfer, the Vatican is betting this year that an American-style fundraising pitch under the Chicago-born Leo will do more to help keep the Holy See bureaucracy afloat and erase its $57 million-$68 million structural deficit.<\/p>\n<p>The video features footage of Leo&rsquo;s emotional first moments as pope, when he stepped out onto the loggia of St. Peter&rsquo;s Basilica and later choked up as he received the fisherman&rsquo;s ring of the papacy. With an evocative soundtrack in the background, the video superimposes a message, available in several languages, urging donations to Leo via the Peter&rsquo;s Pence collection.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;With your donation to Peter&rsquo;s Pence, you support the steps of the Holy Father,&rdquo; it says. &ldquo;Help him proclaim the Gospel to the world and extend a hand to our brothers and sisters in need. Support the steps of Pope Leo XIV. Donate to Peter&rsquo;s Pence.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pope thanks donors<\/h2>\n<p>At the end of his noon blessing Sunday, Leo used the same language about his first steps to say the Peter&rsquo;s Pence fund is &ldquo;a sign of communion with the pope and participation with his Apostolic Ministry.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;From the heart, I thank those who with their gifts are supporting my first steps as the successor of St. Peter,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The fund has been the source of scandal in recent years, amid revelations that the Vatican&rsquo;s secretariat of state mismanaged its holdings through bad investments, incompetent management, and waste.&nbsp;The recent trial&nbsp;over the Vatican&rsquo;s bungled investment in a London property confirmed that the vast majority of Peter&rsquo;s Pence contributions had funded the Holy See&rsquo;s budgetary shortfalls, not papal charity initiatives as many parishioners had been led to believe.<\/p>\n<p>Between the revelations and the COVID-19 pandemic, which&nbsp;closed churches&nbsp;and canceled out the traditional pass-the-basket collection on June 29, Peter&rsquo;s Pence donations fell to under $51 million in 2022 &mdash; a low not seen since 1986 &mdash; that was nevertheless offset the same year by other investment income and revenue to the fund.<\/p>\n<p>Donations rose to $56.7 million in 2023 and hit nearly $63.6 million last year, according to the Peter&rsquo;s Pence annual report issued last week. But the fund incurred expenses of $88.3 million in 2024, continuing the trend in which the fund is exhausting itself as it covers the Holy See&rsquo;s budgetary shortfalls.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vatican faces shortfall in pension fund<\/h2>\n<p>On top of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-reasons-making-taxpayers-pay-off-student-loans-is-a-rotten-idea\/\" title=\"5 Reasons Making Taxpayers Pay Off Student Loans Is A Rotten Idea\">budget deficit<\/a>, the Vatican is also facing a $1.17 billion&nbsp;shortfall in its pension fund&nbsp;that Pope Francis, in the months before he died, warned was unable in the medium term to fulfill its obligations.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike countries, the Holy See&nbsp;doesn&rsquo;t issue bonds or impose income tax&nbsp;on its residents to run its operations, relying instead on donations, investments and revenue generated by the Vatican Museums, and sales of stamps, coins, publications, and other initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>For years, the United States has been the greatest source of donations to Peter&rsquo;s Pence, with U.S. Catholics contributing around a quarter of the total each year.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vatican officials are hoping that under Leo&rsquo;s pontificate, with new financial controls in place and an American math major running the Holy See, donors will be reassured that their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-wakes-up-to-encouraging-news-on-morning-of-debate-kamala-appears-to-be-slipping-in-newest-poll\/\" title=\"Trump Wakes Up to Encouraging News on Morning of Debate - Kamala Appears to Be Slipping in Newest Poll\">money won&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t be misspent or mismanaged.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is a concrete way to support the Holy Father in his mission of service to the universal Church,&rdquo; the Vatican&rsquo;s economy ministry said in a press release last week announcing the annual collection and new promotional materials surrounding it. &ldquo;Peter&rsquo;s Pence is a gesture of communion and participation in the Pope&rsquo;s mission to proclaim the Gospel, promote peace, and spread Christian charity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2130014\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2130014\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pope Leo XIV celebrates feast day as Vatican seeks to address $57M-$68M deficit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2453623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/pope-leo-feast-day.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[58143,58144,54854,9367],"class_list":["post-2453621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-feast-day","tag-financial-campaign","tag-pope-leo-xiv","tag-vatican"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/pope-leo-feast-day.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2453621"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2453625,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2453621\/revisions\/2453625"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2453623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2453621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2453621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2453621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}