Knights of Columbus donate mobile broadcasting unit to Vatican
In the presence of Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, blesses a new state-of-the-art broadcast van donated to the Vatican by the Knights of Columbus .
By Christopher Wells
Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communications, and Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, participated Saturday morning in the inauguration ceremony of a new mobile broadcast unit donated to the Vatican by the Knights of Columbus.
After the broadcast vehicle was blessed by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Ruffini expressed his gratitude for the Knights’ donation. The new communications vehicle, he said, was designed to be Jubilee ready, ready “to broadcast the images of the Vatican, the heart of our Catholic Church; share images of the Jubilee; to tell of our pilgrimage of hope, a hope rooted in faith.
The new mobile broadcast unit in the Vatican
He thanked all those whose generosity contributed to the donation of the van, stressing that it was made possible “because we are truly members of each other… because we believe in the communion that unites us… because we We are all aware of the importance of communication.”
For his part, Supreme Knight Kelly noted that this is the fourth broadcast van donated to the Vatican by the Knights, emphasizing the importance of “getting across the message of the Holy Father, the message of the Vicar of Christ , the message of the Church. throughout the world, particularly during the Jubilee Year.
Ribbon cutting with Paolo Ruffini, Cardinal Semeraro and Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly
Bringing the Pope’s voice to the world
Speaking to Vatican Radio on the sidelines of the event, Kelly said: “It’s really an honor for us to be able to do this, to provide a van like this, which is top-notch technology and who is truly capable of reaching so many people. who may never have the chance to come to Rome. With the new broadcasting unit, he continued, it is possible to bring the voice of the Pope and the events taking place in Rome to people around the world.
Kelly then highlighted the solidarity that the Knights of Columbus have always had with the bishops and priests of the Church, and above all the “very strong union” with the popes, vicars of Christ on earth. “So that’s part of who the Knights of Columbus are: being in unity with Rome and in unity with the Church” – and, borrowing from Pope Francis, “having co-responsibility for the mission of the Church.”
“We are very pleased as Knights,” he concluded, “to partner with the Church on something that is so important in bringing the message of Christ to the world. »
Interior of the new broadcast van
