Washington, D.C. - International telecasts of events from Rome, made possible with funding from the Knights of Columbus, are the most widely carried religious programs in the world. Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications at the Vatican, who coordinates the programs and provides the English narration for them, told the Knights that their efforts "have brought the truth of Christ through the words of the Holy Father literally to billions of people around the world."

Through special arrangement with Archbishop Foley's office, the Knights is underwriting the satellite transmission from Rome of the Oct. 19 Mass celebrating Pope John Paul II's 25th anniversary and the beatification of Mother Teresa. For more than 25 years the Order has underwritten the satellite uplink costs for papal events from the Vatican, including midnight Mass at Christmas and Easter triduum services. In mission countries the Knights pays the costs of recapturing the signal.

Archbishop Foley, a member of the Knights himself, urged members to promote the Order's Catholic Information Service booklets on the faith and a home study course based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. "I have recently read almost all of the pamphlets in your home study series," he said, "and they are excellent. I would take advantage of the great interest there will be for the anniversary of the Holy Father to do some evangelization," Archbishop Foley said.

"With 1.5 million Knights of Columbus, we are truly in a position to evangelize, to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ and thus to change the world," he said.