Pope expresses gratitude to Knights of Columbus for upholding ethical values

(Aug.03, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday expressed his deepest gratitude to the Knights of Columbus for their continuing contribution to responsible public debate about the ethical issues, which will shape the future of democratic societies. The message addressed to Supreme Knight Carl Andersen was sent in the Pope’s name by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone for the 129^th annual Convention taking place Aug. 2-4 in Denver, Colorado, United States.
The theme of this year’s Convention is “So that the world may know new hope”. Pope Benedict said the theme was fittingly inspired by the great Prayer for Families with which, Blessed John Paul II concluded his Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America. He said the late Pontiff tirelessly called upon the lay faithful, to work for the spread of the Gospel and the renewal of society in accordance with its liberating message. Pope Benedict noted that today, before the increasingly evident signs of a growing forgetfulness of God, a rejection of the most basic principles of morality and a breakdown in the very foundations of social life, no committed follower of Christ can fail to heed this urgent summons to work for the rebuilding of our communities, in accordance with the enduring values grounded in the natural law and confirmed by the Gospel.
In conclusion, Pope Benedict expressed his profound satisfaction for the continuing fidelity of the Knights of Columbus to the vision of Fr. Micheal McGivney, who desired that the Order should be the embodiment of Christian charity, through its manifold works of fraternal solidarity and mutual aid. The Pope also expressed his gratitude for the constant support given by the Knights to the Successor of Peter in his ministry to the universal Church.