Pope sends message to Knights of Columbus

August 09, 2013 - Pope Francis has commended the Knights of Columbus for their outstanding role in helping Catholic men to respond to their vocation to be ‘protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment’. The Pope’s remarks came in a message sent on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, as the Catholic fraternal benefits organization, based in New Haven, Conn., US, held its 131st annual convention in San Antonio, Texas, August 6-8, on the theme, “Be Protectors of God’s Gifts.” While praising the 1.8 million-member organization, for its charitable works and encouraging it to defend the faith, the Pope encouraged every knight and council to continue “to bear witness to the authentic nature of marriage and the family, the sanctity and inviolable dignity of human life, and the beauty and truth of human sexuality.” “In this time of rapid social and cultural changes, the protection of God’s gifts cannot fail to include the affirmation and defense of the great patrimony of moral truths taught by the Gospel and confirmed by right reason, which serve as the bedrock of a just and well-ordered society.” The Pope also expressed his appreciation for the Knights’ “clear public witness” in the forum of religious freedom, and for “protecting the right and duty of believers to participate responsibly, on the basis of their deepest convictions, in the life of society.” Founded in 1882, the Knights of Columbus have charity as their central commitment, the organization has grown to 1.8 million members worldwide. During the past year, Knights donated more than $167.5 million and more than 70 million hours of service to charitable causes. With charity as its central commitment, the organization has members in over 12 countries, including the Philippines.