Supreme Knight Presents Pope With Proceeds From K of C’s Vicarius Christi Fund

Discusses initiatives, including those assisting persecuted Christians in the Middle East

ROME – Pope Francis received Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson in audience at the Vatican on Feb. 16.

At that audience, Anderson discussed with the Holy Father the Knights’ many initiatives, especially its work on behalf of persecuted Christians in the Middle East. He also presented the earnings from the Knights’ Vicarius Christi Fund, in the amount of $1.6 million.

The proceeds are given annually to the pope for his personal charities, and since the fund’s inception in 1981, more than $57 million in earnings have been donated.

The K of C was founded in 1882 by Venerable Father Michael McGivney, a parish priest, in New Haven, Connecticut. The organization was formed to provide charitable outreach and care for the financial well-being of Catholic families, focusing on the protection of widows and orphans, and on strengthening the faith of its members. It has grown to count 1.9 million members worldwide.

In its last fraternal year, the Knights set a new all-time record for charitable donations, with more than $175 million in donations and more than 73.5 million hours of service valued at $1.7 billion.