04/21/2025
The more than 2.1 million Knights of Columbus around the world join Catholics and people of all faiths today as we mourn the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis was a powerful witness to charity and fraternity, calling us from his first days as pope to reach out to the margins of society and serve those who are too often forgotten.
The Knights of Columbus is particularly grateful for its close relationship with our late Holy Father. Pope Francis continually encouraged our charitable mission and offered his blessing for our work, especially our humanitarian efforts around the world. Pope Francis was also very supportive of our efforts to help Catholic men be better husbands and fathers and take up co-responsibility for the Church’s mission of evangelization.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
- Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly
Photo: His Holiness Pope Francis received Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly in a private audience at the Vatican on Dec. 20, 2024. The Supreme Knight provided an update to the Holy Father on notable activities of the Knights of Columbus, including the growth of the Cor men’s faith formation initiative, charitable work around the world, and support for vocations. (Photo by Vatican Media)
