Dr Thomas Heine-Geldern, executive president of ACN (International), said: “Not only did the pandemic turn our own work upside down, but it also dramatically worsened the plight of Christians in many regions of the world, who found themselves literally, almost overnight, without work, pay or food.”

“It was quite unforeseen, especially since the crisis has inflicted profound economic insecurity and difficulties on us all.”

According to the charity’s international annual accounts, ACN’s 23 offices around the world raised more than €122 (£104) million in 2020.

Neville Kyrke-Smith, national director of Aid to the Church in Need’s UK office – which raised £11.3 million (including accrued legacies) in 2020 – also thanked benefactors for their outstanding generosity, but stressed that there was still a challenge to support the persecuted Church.

“We are so grateful to our benefactors, who came to the aid of their suffering brothers and sisters when the global coronavirus pandemic was casting its shadow over everything in 2020", he said.

In 2020 Mass stipends rose from 15.9 to 22.8 percent of the charity’s total aid.

Mr Kyrke-Smith added: “ACN also focused on supporting Sisters who have been carrying out vital pastoral work in very difficult circumstances, bringing the compassion of Christ to those suffering because of the pandemic.

Aid for Africa increased to 32.6 percent (from 29.6 in 2019), caused not only by the coronavirus crisis but also by the growing threat of Islamist extremism.