Aid to the Church in Need is a Catholic institution working to help dry the tears of the bishops. Founder Werenfried Van Straaten's, known as the "the Bacon Priest", stated this with poetic force. The organization under pontifical jurisdiction was born nearly 60 years ago, founded by Father Werenfried with the vision to help pastoral development projects in evangelism.

Xavier Legorreta, one of those responsible for Latin America, explains the ecclesial identity of this organization:

"This project was born with a special charism, not as an NGO; it is not Manos Unidas, it is not a Miserior of Germany, and it is not Caritas. Anything that can enrich the pastoral life of the Church is what Aid to the Church in Need has to contribute. We do not come to supply all that is needed, we come to supply a drop, but we come, as Father Werenfried said, to dry the tears of the bishops with our aid."

Aid to the Church in Need is sustained through international aid.

"There are nearly one million contributing benefactors from around the world, from Spain and almost everywhere in Europe including Poland, to the USA and Canada, Australia, Chile and Brazil. These benefactors have entrusted their donations to the Church in Need, and the work relies on the bishops; that is to say, our work is not a role of bureaucratic paperwork where the request comes in and, if it is approved, a hundred thousand dollars or fifty thousand dollars are sent, or information goes back and forth. It is, rather, an act of trust."

This organization depends on the Holy See, and attempts to address the emerging needs of the Church throughout the world in its formation, catechesis and evangelization, by sending Bibles, supplying books to enrich seminarian libraries, building churches, chapels, monasteries, seminaries, parish centers, and by providing transportation and media support for evangelization, among other things.