Pope Francis recognized the Knights of Columbus for the fraternal order’s efforts to build a “fraternal, just and equitable world,” on the eve of the Knights’ 138th annual convention.
For the first time in its 138-year history, the Knights of Columbus will not meet in person for its annual supreme convention. Instead, this important meeting will be held virtually Aug. 4-6, with members tuning in across the world to key convention events broadcast from New Haven, Connecticut.
This virtual convention, necessitated by the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, is not the only historic aspect of this year’s event. The 2020 convention will also celebrate the upcoming beatification of the Knights’ founder, Blessed Father Michael McGivney.
In recognition of the unique and important time in which the convention is being held, Pope Francis extended his well-wishes to the Knights of Columbus through a letter from Vatican Secretariat of State Archbishop Pietro Parolin, dated July 14, 2020.
The message acknowledged the meeting’s theme, “Knights of Fraternity,” and the Order’s work during the pandemic, saying, “The theme of the Convention – Knights of Columbus: Knights of Fraternity – is a timely reminder of the vision that guided the foundation of your Order. … In these days, your Order has provided charitable support on the local, national and international level to individuals and communities suffering because of the pandemic or otherwise often forgotten or marginalized.”
The letter added that “His Holiness is grateful for these and for the many other countless ways in which the Knights of Columbus continue to bear prophetic witness to God’s dream for a more fraternal, just and equitable world in which all are recognized as neighbors and no one is left behind.”
Additionally, the papal message included the Holy Father’s appreciation for the Knights’ work on behalf of persecuted Christians, the unborn and all those are marginalized because of the pandemic or other circumstances, as well as his confidence that the beatification of Father McGivney “will be a stimulus for Knights to deepen their commitment to live as missionary disciples in charity, unity and fraternity.”
The letter continued, saying that Pope Francis “is confident that Father McGivney’s heroic virtues and example of faith will inspire you to seek each day in prayer the wisdom and strength to practice ‘a fraternal love capable of seeing the sacred grandeur of our neighbor, of finding God in every human being’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 92). As a parish priest, your Founder knew well and wished to impress on his flock the urgency of the Gospel mandate, ‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Mt 25:40).” Read full papal greeting.