Pope Leo XIV Meets Aid to the Church in Need Delegation

“Do not grow weary of doing good,” the Holy Father tells charity serving the persecuted Church

The audience brought together the charity’s President, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Executive President Regina Lynch, senior management of ACN International, and national directors from nearly 30 countries. Among them was Bernard Toutounji, National Director for Aid to the Church in Need Australia and New Zealand, who was privileged to greet the Pope personally and present gifts on behalf of the benefactors of Australia and New Zealand.

A Jubilee Message of Hope

In his address, delivered in the Hall of Popes, the Holy Father reminded the delegates that the right to religious freedom “is not optional but essential… a cornerstone of any just society.” He warned that when this freedom is denied, “trust gives way to fear, suspicion replaces dialogue, and oppression breeds violence.”

Citing his predecessor’s Easter message, Pope Leo added: “There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.”

The Pope commended ACN’s long-standing witness through its Religious Freedom in the World Report, calling it “a powerful instrument for raising awareness… giving voice to the voiceless and revealing the hidden suffering of many.”

He expressed particular gratitude for the organisation’s support of vulnerable Christian communities, especially in Africa and Latin America, noting that its mission helps the Church to remain a “living sign of social harmony and fraternity.”

“Dear friends,” the Pope concluded, “do not grow weary of doing good, for your service bears fruit in countless lives and gives glory to our Father in heaven.” He imparted his Apostolic Blessing “as a pledge of grace and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Australia’s Gift to the Pope

Following the address, each national director was invited to meet the Holy Father personally. Mr Toutounji presented three simple gifts symbolising the faith and generosity of Australian and New Zealand supporters; a painting of the Three Sisters rock formation in the Blue Mountains—near ACN’s national office—painted by a local artist Christopher Vidal; a box of chocolates, from Australia’s oldest chocolatier, Haigh’s; and a hand-made card created by the Toutounji children for the Pope, featuring drawings and prayers.

When learning that his painting would be gifted tot he Pope, Mr Vidal said, "I am honoured and truly humbled to learn that one of my paintings was presented to His Holiness, Pope Leo. It was something I could never have imagined, and I am profoundly grateful for this gesture. Knowing that my work has been associated with such a noble cause and an organisation devoted to helping those in need makes even more meaningful to me." 

When shown the painting, Pope Leo smiled in recognition, recalling his previous visit to the region. On receiving the chocolates, he laughed warmly and expressed his thanks, his delight captured in photos later published by Vatican News and L’Osservatore Romano. The card was well received, the Holy Father delighted to see the contributions of the children.

A Moment for the Whole ACN Family

Speaking after the audience, ACN Australia & New Zealand said the encounter was both personal and ecclesial:

“To stand before the successor of St Peter and hear his encouragement was a moment of grace,” Mr Toutounji said. “We carried with us the prayers and sacrifices of our benefactors and presented them to the Holy Father. This meeting reaffirmed our bond with the universal Church and our mission to serve the suffering Church.”

The event marked the first formal audience between Pope Leo XIV and Aid to the Church in Need, a Pontifical Foundation established in 1947 to support the pastoral and spiritual needs of Christians in countries where the Church is poor, persecuted, or oppressed.

As the delegation departed St Peter’s, the atmosphere was one of gratitude and renewed purpose — a reminder, in the Pope’s own words, that “we do not abandon our persecuted brothers and sisters; rather, we remember them, we stand with them, and we labour to secure their God-given freedoms.”

To read the Pope’s address and see the video, visit, www.aidtochurch.org/popeleo