ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday encouraged some of the wealthiest U.S. Catholics to keep on giving to support his charitable works, in an audience that confirmed how the election of the first U.S.-born pope has invigorated American Catholics and their donations.
The Chicago-born Leo met with members of The Papal Foundation, a major funder of papal development projects in the developing world, in the Apostolic Palace at the end of their annual pilgrimage to Rome.
In his remarks, Leo thanked the foundation stewards for their generosity, which he said had allowed "countless people to experience in a concrete fashion the goodness and kindness of God in their own communities.”
He noted in particular the priests and nuns from poor countries who are able to study at Rome’s pontifical universities to earn advanced degrees thanks to scholarships funded by foundation’s grants, which combined over the past four decades have totaled more than $270 million.
While The Papal Foundation contributions to the Vatican remained strong during Pope Francis’ 12-year pontificate, other donations to the Holy See tanked during the global financial crisis, COVID-19 and other strains. Some U.S. Catholics also soured on donating to the Holy See following years of unrelenting stories of mismanagement, corruption and scandal, as well as Francis’ known criticism of American-style capitalism.
The election of Leo seems to have reinvigorated the U.S. church, especially the donor class. On Saturday The Papal Foundation announced that its members had approved more than $15 million in grants for 2026, a record in the foundation’s 38-year history.
The foundation also announced that 25 new families had joined it in the year since Leo’s election, in the strongest sign yet that the election of an American, English-speaking pope — and a math major with an eye to the Vatican's balance sheet — has been good news for church fundraising.
“The growth we’re seeing is incredibly encouraging, as it reflects a shared commitment to serve, to give, and to bring the church’s mission to life in meaningful ways across the globe,” David Savage, the foundation’s executive director, said in a statement.
The foundation was created by the late Cardinal John Krol of Philadelphia in 1988, as a way for wealthy U.S. Catholics to directly fund charitable initiatives of the pope.
To become a steward requires a $1 million gift to a fund that then helps support papal projects, such as building orphanages or monasteries. For 2026, for example, some of the approved projects include the construction or renovation of a safe school for marginalized tribal children in India, and professional technical training for vulnerable women in the Philippines.
The foundation currently has as its members all the U.S. cardinals, and is governed by a board of trustees made up of Catholic laypeople and bishops.
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
BOSTON (AP) — Rasmus Dahlin arrived in Buffalo as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NHL draft wanting to be part of the revival for a city rabid about a Sabres team that hadn't been to playoffs in the six years before his arrival.
Eight seasons later, he not only finally helped the Sabres get back there, but was a key factor in the franchise winning its first postseason series in almost two decades.
Buffalo's 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Friday night wrapped up a 4-2 series victory, securing it a spot in the second round for the first time since 2007.
As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard, Dahlin took a few extra moments to let it all sink in.
“It was unreal,” said Dahlin, who had a goal and three assists in the series. “I like how we attacked this series as a team. A lot of experienced guys. Playing the way we did all series, it’s pretty cool. We have good things ahead. We can learn a lot from this."
What's ahead is a matchup with either Montreal or Tampa Bay after the Lightning’s 1-0 overtime road win Friday night to force a Game 7.
After watching his team endure the disappointment of a Game 5 overtime loss at home, coach Lindy Ruff could tell they were a little uneasy. After all, Buffalo’s entered that game with a lineup that didn’t have a lot of experience, with just 10 players having previously appeared in an outing with a chance to eliminate an opponent.
But Ruff made his team a promise.
“I told them, ‘We’re going to win the game.' I told them, ‘We’re going to win the series,'" Ruff said. "We've got to do some things better, but we are going to win the game.”
Friday's win marked the second time in franchise history that the Sabres have won their first three road contests of a playoff year. They last did it in 1983 at Montreal (two games) and Boston (one game).
For other veteran players like Alex Tuch, there are loftier goals on his mind.
“For me it’s been five long years of waiting for something special to happen. We’re hoping it’s just the start,” he said. We’re one round into the playoffs and in our eyes we haven’t done anything yet. ... We’re hoping it’s a long road ahead for us. It’s going to be a grind each and every day and we’re going to have to be ready for it.”
Goaltender Alex Lyon played in five of the six games in the series, one more than he did when he was with Florida during the 2022-23 season when it lost to Las Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final.
He allowed just five total goals in his appearances in the series with the Bruins. It is the fewest goals allowed in any five-game span in the playoffs by a Sabres netminder ever.
Lyon believes this team's youth is becoming a positive.
“We're learning every game. That's kind of what's bonded us,” Lyon said. “I find that we're just learning how to handle different situations and kind of learning on the fly.”
Ruff’s only regret is that the Sabres’ home fans couldn’t watch them clinch this series on home ice.
“Would have really liked this game to be in Buffalo,” Ruff said. “It wasn’t. But it would have been special to have this game there.”
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Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) congratulates Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) after the Sabres eliminated the Bruins from the playoffs following Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon celebrates with teammates after their team eliminated the Boston Bruins from the playoffs in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) sits on the ice after giving up a goal to Buffalo Sabres left wing Zach Benson (6) during the third period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
