VATICAN CITY – The supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus and the fraternal order’s bishop-chaplain met privately with Pope Benedict XVI Dec. 6 and delivered a check for $1.6 million.
Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., handed the pope the check, which represents a year’s interest from the Vicarius Christi Fund, established in 1981 when the Vatican found itself in the midst of a series of huge budget deficits.
While the Vatican’s annual budget deficits have been reduced or erased, the 1.7 million Knights worldwide have continued to bring the pope a check each year to support his charities and special projects.
The Vatican has received more than $43 million over the years from the Knights, whose members are mostly in the United States.