The following is the Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV on the occasion of the celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of the Catholic Philanthropy Network (FADICA):
Message of the Holy Father
To Mrs Alexia Kelley
President and CEO
FADICA-Catholic Philanthropy Network
I send cordial good wishes to you and to all those who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the FADICA-Catholic Philanthropy Network. As you mark five decades of working together, I express my gratitude for your generous support of various Dicasteries of the Roman Curia as well as Catholic initiatives in the United States of America and throughout the world.
Your gathering takes place during the holy season of Lent, a time when, in addition to prayer and fasting, the Church invites all Catholics to practice works of mercy with greater fervor. Jesus taught us that in discerning how to help our neighbor, we must imitate the example of the Good Samaritan, who selflessly gave of his time and resources to someone whom he had never previously met (cf. Lk 10:25-37). This parable shows us, as Pope Francis often said, God’s style of closeness, compassion and tender love. When we help those in need, especially those who cannot repay us, we become the Lord’s instruments, for “every act of love for one’s neighbor is in some way a reflection of divine charity” (Dilexi Te, 26). In this regard, your contributions to supporting programs that promote social justice, strengthen Catholic education, defend human dignity and care for the most vulnerable are truly a manifestation of divine charity. It is my hope that your work will likewise inspire others to a renewed encounter with Christ through service to the least of his brothers and sisters, and to an ever more conscious participation in the Church’s mission.
With these sentiments, I encourage you to continue in your worthy mission, confident in the knowledge that “the Almighty will not be outdone in generosity to those who serve the people most in need” (ibid., 45). While assuring you of my prayers,
I entrust all members of the FADICA-Catholic Philanthropy Network to the loving intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and joy in the Lord.
From the Vatican, 27 February 2026
LEO PP. XIV
