Attending the audience were three cardinals: William Keeler, archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland; Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, D.C.; and Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The foundation organizes annual donation drives to support the Holy Father's charitable works. It was instituted in 1990 by Cardinal John Krol, the then retired archbishop of Philadelphia.

The Papal Foundation has helped fund charitable works worldwide for victims of hurricanes, AIDS, war and other disasters.