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Address to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson
Private Audience for the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sala Clementina
Holy Father, it is with joy that the Supreme Directors of the Knights of Columbus greet Your Holiness during our pilgrimage to Rome in honor of the Prince of the Apostles and as a sign of our devotion to his successors.
We recall with gratitude your recent visit to the United States.
We are grateful as well for the recent International Eucharistic Congress held in Quebec City and for the upcoming World Meeting of Families to be held soon in Mexico City.
We believe these events to be grace filled occasions to build greater solidarity among all the faithful of North America.
We will continue to answer your call to be co-workers with our bishops and priests in the new evangelization; and for the renewal of society, which is a special responsibility of the laity.
We thank you especially for your encyclicals, Deus Caritas Est and Spe Salvi – they have become indispensable guides as we continue to live more fully our principles of charity, unity and fraternity in fidelity to the vision of our founder, the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney.
On behalf of our more than 1,750,000 members and their families in the United States, Canada, Philippines, Mexico, the Caribbean and Poland we pledge greater efforts in building a new culture of life in all the countries in which we work.
On this occasion we are privileged to present to Your Holiness the annual proceeds of our Vicarius Christi Fund. Since its establishment, this fund has provided more than $43 million for the charitable work of Your Holiness and that of your beloved predecessor.
Holy Father, today we ask that the Lord may exceedingly bless your ministry on behalf of the universal Church, especially your efforts to bring peace, reconciliation and greater charity to the world. We pray as well that you may always find in the Knights of Columbus a strong right arm in service to the Church.
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