Pope Francis Meets with K of C Leaders

Pope Francis received Supreme Knight Carl Anderson and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore in a private audience at the Vatican on Dec. 17. It was the fourth such audience granted by Pope Francis to the supreme knight.

During the course of the meeting, the supreme knight and Archbishop Lori spoke with the Holy Father about the many activities of the Knights of Columbus in 2015, particularly the Order’s efforts to aid persecuted Christians in the Middle East.

Through the Knights of Columbus Christian Refugee Relief Fund, the Order has distributed more than $5 million to support Christians in the Middle East. In addition to this financial support, the Knights of Columbus has organized a major public awareness campaign about the situation faced by Christians in the Middle East.

During the visit, the supreme knight also presented the Holy Father with a contribution of $1.6 million from the Vicarius Christi Fund, offered on behalf of the 1.9 million members of the Knights of Columbus. The Vicarius Christi Fund has generated $56,015,000 for the pope’s personal charities and causes since its establishment in 1981.