[Photography Credit: Vatican Media)
The final stop on the road was St Peter's Square. After the weekly General Audience, a delegation from Catholics in Fundraising (CiF) presented the Catholic Generosity Report to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. Our Imogen Ward was there with them.
In St Peter's Square
John Green, Chair of CiF, handed the report to the Pope. John spoke about one of its central themes: the need to make the Church's teaching on wealth, stewardship, philanthropy, ethical investment and estate planning better known among Catholics. He also thanked Pope Leo for his own teaching on the responsible use of wealth and the dignity of work.
The Pope's reply was brief and realistic. On spreading the Church's teaching on wealth, he said: "These things take time."
John also raised a hope for the future. If Pope Leo visits the UK, CiF would like him to address a gathering of Catholics who work in philanthropy, fundraising, investment, wealth management, estate planning and charity leadership. CiF trustee Matt Parkes said such an address would reach far beyond those in the room. It would speak to the wider English-speaking world and to a global philanthropy and wealth management community looking for a deeper moral framework.
A treasure waiting to be shared
The report estimates that Catholic households in the UK hold around £1.2tn in wealth and give nearly £3bn a year to charity. Its main argument is that Catholic Social Teaching offers a single framework for philanthropy, investment, wealth management and legacy giving, all as expressions of Christian stewardship. It calls for more formation, collaboration and practical support to help Catholics bring their financial decisions into line with that teaching.
CiF trustee Suzanne Wheeler described the Church's teaching on wealth and the common good as "one of its most significant yet least understood treasures". The report is one step towards making it better understood. As Pope Leo said, the rest will take time.
A personal note
Imogen spent 24 hours in Rome with John, Matt, Suzanne, Petra Gomersall and the rest of the delegation. Seeing John present the report to Pope Leo was a moment she won't forget. As she put it afterwards: "Life really is beautiful sometimes."
AAW and Tobin Aldrich were commissioned to write the report, and we are grateful to John and CiF for their confidence and trust in us. It has been a privilege to follow this work from the first data request all the way to St Peter's Square.