.- On the 35th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's episcopal ordination, the head of the Knights of Columbus has asked all 1.8 million members of the Catholic fraternal order to pray for the pontiff.
“At this important moment in the history of the Church and in the life of Pope Benedict XVI, it is
important that we commit ourselves in prayer and solidarity to our Holy Father in a special way," Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said May 28.
He asked every Knight of Columbus to pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be before or after Mass this coming Sunday, June 3, for the Pope's intentions and "in honor of his 35 years as a bishop."
Pope Benedict was consecrated a bishop on May 28, 1977.
There are Knights of Columbus councils throughout North and Central America, the Caribbean, the Philippines and Poland.
Members of the charitable fraternity donated 70 million hours and nearly $155 million to charitable causes in 2011. The 130-year-old organization has a long history of working with the Church from local parishes to the Vatican.
