杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, has conveyed 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥檚 warm greetings to Supreme Knight, Carl Anderson of the Knights of Columbus on the 138^th Supreme Convention which took place last week.

鈥淗is Holiness 杏MAP导航 Francis was pleased to be informed that the 138th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus will be held this year both in person and virtually on 4-5 August... He has asked me to convey his warm greetings to all taking part, together with the assurance of his closeness in prayer,鈥� read the letter dated 14 July.

鈥淥n this occasion, His Holiness renews his profound gratitude for your Order鈥檚 historic contribution to the Church鈥檚 mission of evangelization and its unswerving solidarity with the Successor of Peter in his concern for all the Churches (2 Cor 11:28).鈥� 

鈥淚n a particular way, he offers heartfelt thanks to the Knights for their steadfast support of our Christian brothers and sisters persecuted for the sake of the Gospel,鈥� said Cardinal Parolin.

The theme of the Convention was 鈥淜nights of Columbus: Knights of Fraternity.鈥�

Charity amid Covid-19 crisis

Cardinal Parolin said that the principle of fraternity flowing from the theme of the Convention 鈥渋s a timely reminder of the vision that guided the foundation of the Order.鈥� And, it has inspired in the Knights a 鈥渃reativity of charity鈥� inculcated by the Gospel.

Especially at this time when the world faces the Covid-19 pandemic, 鈥渢he Church as a whole feels the urgent need to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope capable of giving strength, support and meaning,鈥� said Cardinal Parolin echoing 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥檚 words during the Extraordinary Moment of Prayer on 27 March.

The Secretary of State acknowledged the Knights鈥� charitable support to individuals and communities suffering because of the health crisis. He also extended the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 gratitude to the Order for how it continues 鈥渢o bear witness to God鈥檚 dream for a more fraternal, just and equitable world鈥� where no one is left behind.

Care for families: a priority

Cardinal Parolin pointed out that the Knights have made 鈥渃are for the family鈥� a priority especially as the Order was established out of Venerable Michael McGivney鈥檚 concern to promote 鈥渢he material and spiritual welfare of working men and their families.鈥�

鈥淭hrough the building up of family life, individuals grow in solidarity, mutual respect, truth, mercy and love,鈥� said the Cardinal.

He gave examples of the 鈥淚nto the Breach鈥� video series and the 鈥淟eave No Neighbor Behind鈥� Program 鈥� both initiatives of the Knights in support of families.

Today, the Cardinal continued, 鈥測our strong and courageous defense of the inviolable dignity of human life from its conception, and your commitment to strengthen family life鈥�offer the Knights and their families, 'a true path to daily sanctification' (Amoris Laetitia, 316) and Christian witness.鈥�

Inspiration from the Founder

杏MAP导航 Francis, in May, approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Founder of the Knights of Columbus, Venerable Michael McGivney, paving the way for his beatification.

In view of this, Cardinal Parolin said that the 杏MAP导航 joins the Knights in 鈥済iving thanks鈥� and trusting 鈥渢hat the celebration will be a stimulus for Knights to deepen their commitment to live as missionary disciples in charity, unity and fraternity.鈥�

He added that the 杏MAP导航 is confident that the Founder鈥檚 heroic virtues and example of faith will inspire them to practice 鈥渁 fraternal love capable of seeing the sacred grandeur of our neighbor, of finding God in every human being.鈥�

As a parish priest, continued the Cardinal, 鈥測our Founder knew well and wished to impress on his flock the urgency of the Gospel mandate, 鈥渨hatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me鈥� (Mt 25: 40).

Concluding, Cardinal Parolin said that 杏MAP导航 Francis commended the Knights鈥� deliberations to the intercession of Our Lady and assured them of his prayers. The 杏MAP导航 also imparted his Apostolic Blessing on them 鈥渁s a pledge of joy and peace in the Lord.鈥�