The growing global scope of the Order was evident at the States Dinner, as speakers from Mexico, Canada, the Holy Land, the Vatican and the United States addressed some 2,000 Knights and family members.

Cardinal Edmund Szoka, president of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City, reported on Pope John Paul II's last days in a very moving tribute.

Called to the pope's bedside in his last hours, Cardinal Szoka said he prayed with the dying pope and blessed him. "His death touched the whole world because his life touched the whole world," Cardinal Szoka said.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, primate of Canada, also spoke. He thanked the Knights for the "personal commitment and financial means" that will help make the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec a reality. The Order has pledged $1 million to the project and Quebec Knights are organizing to plan volunteer support for the event.

Cardinal Ouellet also urged the Knights not to be discouraged by the Canadian Parliament's vote earlier this summer to legalize same-sex marriage.

"We lost a battle in the political arena," he said, "but the Church did not hesitate to make its voice heard in defense of what is beautiful and true."

"The struggle to defend marriage is not over, either on the political level or the level of prayer. We are ready to do what we can, and the laity will have a powerful role in this effort."

Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico also addressed the Knights. He announced that in September 2005 the Order would sponsor a tour of the relics of the six Mexican priest-saints canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

The six Knights were martyred for their defense of the faith during government persecution of the Church in the 1920s. The relics will tour 64 cities beginning Sept. 24 before continuing in the United States.

"It is no coincidence," said the cardinal, "that the Knights of Columbus in Mexico is celebrating its 100th anniversary during this Year of the Eucharist. The Order's growth and our principles are based on the Eucharist."

The keynote speaker was Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit. Cardinal Maida was a driving force behind the establishment of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, which is supported in part by a $5 million gift and endowment from the Knights.

Cardinal Maida said John Paul's death and the election of Pope Benedict XVI left him with a renewed understanding of the Holy Spirit's work in the life of the Church.

Cardinal Maida said that during the conclave of cardinals to elect the new pope, he personally drew strength from the knowledge that so many Knights and Catholics were praying for the cardinals.