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Knights' Support for John Paul II - 1970s

Pope John Paul II

Past Supreme Knight Virgil C. Dechant with Pope John Paul in 1978.

  • 1977: The Knights of Columbus agrees to underwrite the creation of a Vatican Film Library, whose purpose is to gather and preserve every foot of useful film ever taken of a Holy Father, from Pope Leo XIII.

  • 1977: The Knights assist with a Vatican project, Radio Veritas, through which the Holy See transmits programming on the faith to one-fourth of the world's population living under communist rule, from a radio station in the Far East.

  • 1978: The Order underwrites the costs of the uplink and downlink in mission countries of the telecast of the installation of Pope John Paul II. The Order funds a film made from videotape of the Holy Father's visit to Mexico.

  • 1979: In October, the Order collaborates with the U.S. Conference of Bishops by providing funding for the filming of the entire journey of Pope John Paul II to the United States, at a cost of $75,000.