|
Pope John Paul II received the officers and board of
directors of the Knights of Columbus in an audience Oct. 9, one week before
the 25th anniversary of his election. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson
presented the pope with a gift of $2.5 million, calling it "an offering to
support your work of peace, reconciliation and charity."
The $2.5 million represented the annual earnings from the Order's Vicarius
Christi Fund. Since its establishment in 1981, the $20 million fund has
earned for the pope and his personal charities more than $35 million.
The pope thanked the Knights of Columbus for its support and prayers. He
called the Vicarius Christi Fund "a sign of the solidarity of the Knights of
Columbus with the Successor of Peter in his concern for the universal
Church."
The pope also acknowledged "the daily prayers, sacrifices and apostolic
works of so many Knights in their local councils, their parishes and their
communities."
During the audience Supreme Knight Anderson thanked the pope for his
"courageous and steadfast witness to the power of the risen Lord." Through
his pontificate, Anderson continued, "the doors of many human hearts and of
many nations have opened wide to Christ."
The pope urged the Knights to remain faithful to the vision of its founder,
Father Michael J. McGivney. "May you continue to seek new ways of being a
leaven of the Gospel in the world and a spiritual force for the renewal of
the Church in holiness, unity and truth," he said. The cause for
canonization of Father McGivney is being investigated by the Vatican.
Celebrations surrounding the pope's 25th anniversary, including the
beatification of Mother Teresa on Oct. 19, will be telecast via satellite to
a worldwide audience with funding from the Knights.
|
