Pope Francis sent a message of support to the annual convention of the Knights of Columbus held this week in Quebec, Canada. He expressed his “deep gratitude” to the Catholic fraternal group for its “concrete witness of faith that works through love.”
In the letter, sent on behalf of the Pope by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy Father states that the theme for this year’s Knights convention, “On Mission,” is close to his heart and is a good reminder that every Christian is called to be a missionary “to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
The men’s charity group, founded by Blessed Father Michael McGivney, “has since its origins devoted great attention to the formation of its members as men of faith and family,” the Pope added.
“Throughout the generations, the Knights have worked to strengthen family life through programs of catechesis and spiritual growth, have borne public witness to the centrality of the family as the fundamental cell of society, and have supported a variety of initiatives to assist families in their indispensable social and educational mission,” he continued, mentioning, in particular, the Knights’ “Cor” initiative, aimed at deepening the faith of Catholic men.
“This historic commitment has included a particular concern for transmitting the faith to the new generations, instilling solid values and accompanying young people in their growth towards maturity as men and women of integrity, wise and at the service of the communities in which they live,” said Pope Francis.
Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly announced at the meeting that the organization, which now has more than 2 million members worldwide, spent more than 47 million hours “serving and sacrificing for the good of others” and set a new record for charitable giving last year at $190 million.
“Together with the charitable activities of your local councils throughout the world, your Order continues to provide exceptional support and encouragement to efforts to defend God’s gift of life at every stage of its development, to uphold the dignity of the institution of marriage, and to promote the mission of the Church in developing countries,” Pope Francis wrote.
He also praised the Knights’ efforts to rebuild and restore Christian communities in the Middle East devastated by persecution, as well as efforts to help the poor affected by the war in Ukraine. Earlier this year, the Knights said they had raised $22 million and delivered £7.7 million worth of supplies to victims of the ongoing war.
He also mentioned the group’s “impressive witness” to faith in Christ through its recent promotion of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, a nationwide effort that ran from May to July to walk 6,500 collective miles (more than 10,460 kilometers) with the Eucharist and invite tens of thousands of Catholics to participate along the way.
The pilgrimage culminated in the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in mid-July.
“His Holiness prays that the graces of the Holy Year may be poured out abundantly upon the Knights and their families as they strive to fulfill their baptismal mission to be a leaven of peace and holiness in our human family, weary of war and longing for the peace that only Christ can give,” the Pope wrote.
The Pontiff concluded by entrusting the Knights to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and added that he “cordially imparts to the Knights and their families his blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the Lord.”
The Knights’ 142nd Supreme Convention concluded today with Mass and a final business session.