As the Knights of Columbus mourns the death of Pope Francis, we also celebrate the gift of his life and offer thanksgiving for his countless contributions to the 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,” said Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly in an official statement on April 21. Find the supreme knight’s full statement and more at kofc.org/PopeFrancis.
Knightline
WEEKLY NEWS FOR KNIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD
VOLUME 43 • NUMBER 16 • April 24, 2025
Pope Francis greets the crowd during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 23, 2019. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Remembering Pope Francis
The Knights of Columbus was privileged to work closely with Pope Francis, supporting his pontificate through prayer and action. The Holy Father continually offered his blessing to the Order and approved a miracle attributed to Father Michael McGivney, opening the door to the founder’s beatification on Oct. 31, 2020. Here we look back on his papacy and highlight some important moments in his close relationship with the Knights.
WATCH HERE
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly meets with Pope Francis in a private audience in the Vatican on April 11, 2022. (Vatican Media)
‘A Journey of Fraternity’
For more than 12 years, the Knights of Columbus drew inspiration from Pope Francis’ call for the faithful to go out to the peripheries, his deep devotion to St. Joseph, and his emphasis on the shared responsibility between clergy and laity in building up the Church. Look back on some of the many ways the Knights supported Francis’ pontificate.
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Pope Francis meets with the Knights of Columbus delegation in the Vatican’s Pauline Chapel Feb. 12, 2020. (L’Osservatore Romano)
In Unity With Peter
In February 2020, the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors made a pilgrimage to Rome in commemoration of the Order’s 100 years of service there. Pope Francis welcomed the delegation to the Vatican, where he commended the Order’s commitment to serving those in need and its unwavering fidelity to the successor of St. Peter.
WATCH HERE
Our Easter Mission
In this concluding video, Dominican Father Jonathan Kalisch, director of chaplains and spiritual development, and Renzo Ortega reflect on our Easter Mission and discuss what it means to live with Easter joy and the Lord’s gift of Divine Mercy. Visit our social media channels or kofc.org/lent to watch this week’s video.
The Gift of a Lifetime
Join the Knights of Columbus, your premier Catholic partner for financial services, for a free webinar to learn more about how extended care planning can help you protect your family’s future. The webinar will be held Monday, May 12, at 8 p.m. EST. Learn more and register here to watch this week’s video.
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