Spain, the second-largest provider of aid to persecuted Christians

«Supporting the Church most in need.» That is the goal that guides the work of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), as highlighted by its leaders during the presentation of the pontifical foundation's 2025 annual report.

The president of ACN Spain, Walther von Plettenberg, presented the results of ACN International’s activities in 2025. Thanks to the support of 363,176 benefactors and the work of its 24 offices around the world, the foundation was able to fund 5,368 projects in 141 countries across five continents, always in collaboration with local dioceses, benefiting a total of 1,251 dioceses.

Main beneficiaries

Over the past year, ACN raised 145.8 million euros from donations and bequests, which were used to support the Church’s pastoral work in places where it suffers most from persecution, poverty, or conflict.

The ten countries that received the most financial support in 2025 were India (7 million euros), Ukraine (6 million), Lebanon, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria—where projects increased by nearly 50 %—, Tanzania, Iraq, Burkina Faso, and Pakistan.

Among the main beneficiaries of this aid are priests, dioceses, bishops, and laypeople. Von Plettenberg noted that one in ten priests worldwide received some form of support from ACN over the past year. In addition, the foundation made it possible to celebrate nearly two million Masses for the support of priests and funded the construction or renovation of 791 church buildings.

«A Church without a church building—unable to celebrate the Eucharist in a dignified setting—is a Church that is severely handicapped,» said the president of ACN Spain, emphasizing the importance of providing Christian communities with suitable spaces for worship.

During the presentation, the private audience that Pope Leo XIV granted to a delegation from ACN International on October 10, 2025, was also recalled. During that meeting, the Pontiff expressed his gratitude for the foundation’s work with these words: «Your mission proclaims that, as one family in Christ, we do not abandon our persecuted brothers and sisters. Rather, we remember them, support them, and work to guarantee the freedoms that God has granted them.».

Where does their income go?

For his part, the director of ACN Spain, José María Gallardo, presented the figures for the Spanish office. He explained that 81.9 % of the revenue came from donations and 18 % from inheritances and bequests. Of the total funds received, 88.3% was allocated directly to the foundation’s own purposes, while 11.7 % covered operating expenses. In addition, 82.2% of the foundation’s activities were specifically dedicated to funding projects.

Africa once again received the largest share of aid, accounting for 34.5 % of all projects. The growth of the Church on this continent, reflected in the increase in the number of faithful and vocations, coexists with major challenges such as poverty and the spread of Islamist terrorism in a growing number of countries. In particularly hard-hit areas, such as Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, ACN was able to increase its aid by 30 %, while support for the Church in Nigeria grew by 47 %.

Gallardo noted that revenue grew by 0.3 % compared to 2024. «We’re holding our own; however, there has been tremendous generosity in the form of inheritances and bequests,» he said.

In 2025, the Spanish office accounted for 11.9 % of ACN’s international revenue, ranking as the second-largest contributor among the 24 offices worldwide, behind only France. Following Spain are Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, and Italy.

Religious freedom

The defense of religious freedom was another key theme of the presentation. Gallardo recalled the words of Pope Leo XIV: «Religious freedom is not a privilege, but a right.» In this context, ACN is promoting a manifesto to ensure the effective implementation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The initiative has already gathered more than 8,000 signatures in Spain, and the organization hopes to reach half a million signatures worldwide.

Likewise, the director of ACN Spain highlighted the foundation’s spiritual dimension. «Without prayer, we could not achieve all that we have achieved,» he said. In this regard, ACN Spain promotes more than 500 prayer initiatives, including the «One Million Children Praying the Rosary» campaign, in which 45 schools and more than 10,000 children participate.

The presentation concluded with a message of thanks to all the benefactors, also recalling the words of Pope Leo XIV: «Do not grow weary of doing good, for your service bears fruit in countless lives and glorifies our Father who is in heaven.» In that spirit, the foundation’s leaders chose to close with a simple expression of gratitude: «Thank you for helping the Church that suffers the most.».