Pope Leo XIV appoints Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight to the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life

 Pope Leo appoints leader of Knights of Columbus to Vatican body

The pontiff appointed Patrick Kelly as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life on Aug. 25.

Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly during an audience with Knights of Columbus leadership at the Vatican on Oct. 6, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

By Ishmael Adibuah

August 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life. The Vatican announced Kelly’s appointment on Aug. 25.

The dicastery was created by Pope Francis in 2016 to promote, as stated in its statutes, “the apostolate of the lay faithful, the pastoral care of the family and its mission according to God’s plan and for the safeguard and support of human life.” The dicastery is also the Vatican office responsible for organizing the international World Youth Day (WYD).

Its members are not full-time staff and do not need to relocate to Rome. Rather, they attend plenary sessions in Rome and vote on decrees.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell has served as its prefect since 2016, the year it was founded.

Kelly first joined the Knights of Columbus in 1983 while a student at Marquette University in Wisconsin. After studying law at Marquette University Law School and theology at The Catholic University of America, where he earned a master’s degree in theology from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, he served 24 years in the United States Navy, earning several military honors.

Before joining the leadership of the Knights of Columbus, Kelly served as an adviser to several U.S. federal agencies, including the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of State. As senior adviser to the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom at the U.S. Department of State, he served as a liaison between the U.S. government and other countries, including the Holy See, on religious freedom issues.

In 2006, Kelly was named vice president for public policy of the Knights of Columbus. He became deputy Supreme Knight in 2017 before being elected Supreme Knight in 2021.

Thursday is the Feast Day of the Priest who founded the Knights of Columbus

 

BLESSED. MICHAEL MCGIVNEY

Blessed Michael McGivney was an American Catholic priest and founder of the Knights of Columbus. Born in 1852, he served the working class and immigrants with compassion and vision. He was beatified in 2020. His feast day is August 13.

Blessed Michael Joseph McGivney was born on August 12, 1852, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Irish immigrant parents, Patrick and Mary McGivney. Raised in a working-class family during a time of deep anti-Catholic sentiment and social struggle in America, he understood the hardships faced by Catholic immigrants. These experiences shaped his future pastoral mission, combining a deep spiritual dedication with practical concern for the well-being of families.

He entered seminary at a young age, first attending Séminaire de Saint-Hyacinthe in Quebec, then later continuing his studies in New York and at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. Michael was ordained a priest on December 22, 1877, for the Archdiocese of Hartford. His first and most significant assignment was at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, where he served a diverse and often struggling congregation.

Fr. McGivney witnessed firsthand the impact of poverty and the lack of social support systems, especially after the death of the family’s primary wage earner. Widows and children were left destitute, and families often fell apart. Seeing the need for both material and spiritual support, McGivney envisioned an organization that would support Catholic families, help men live their faith, and provide mutual aid and insurance to members in need.

In 1882, he founded the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal benefit society named in honor of Christopher Columbus. The organization was built on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. McGivney’s vision was to provide financial assistance to widows and orphans while strengthening the spiritual life of Catholic men. The Knights rapidly grew from a local parish initiative to a global organization that today serves millions of members and their families across the world.

Fr. McGivney’s dedication went beyond organizational leadership. He was known as a compassionate and approachable pastor who advocated for parishioners in need, ministered to the sick during epidemics, and supported youth and working-class Catholics in their moral and religious development. His pastoral ministry was marked by a blend of theological orthodoxy and deep human empathy.

In 1890, during a pandemic outbreak of pneumonia and influenza, Fr. McGivney contracted a serious illness. Despite efforts to recover, he died on August 14, 1890, at the age of 38. He was buried in Waterbury, but his remains were later transferred to St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, the birthplace of the Knights of Columbus.

His legacy continued to flourish through the Knights of Columbus, which today stands as the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization, active in charitable work, disaster relief, educational support, and defending religious liberty and life issues.

After decades of growing veneration, the cause for his canonization was formally opened in 1997. On May 27, 2020, Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to McGivney's intercession: the healing of an unborn child with a fatal condition. He was beatified on October 31, 2020, in a Mass held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut. His feast day is observed on August 13, close to the anniversary of his passing.

Blessed Michael McGivney is celebrated today as a model parish priest, champion of lay leadership, and a pioneer of Catholic social action. His life reflects the call to holiness in everyday pastoral work, and his ongoing intercession is sought by many, especially in matters of family life and financial hardship.

Review of the 144th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus held August 4th thru 6th

 

By living for ‘God’s purposes,’ Knights care for his people, archbishop tells convention

written by André Escaleira, Jr. 

Denver Archbishop James R. Golka concelebrates Mass Aug. 4, 2026, at the 144th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Denver. (OSV News photo/André Escaleira Jr., Denver Catholic)

DENVER (OSV News) — In a moving display of the Catholic Church’s unity, thousands of Knights of Columbus from around the world gathered in Denver for their 144th Supreme Convention Aug. 4-6.

With some members and their families traveling from as far as the Philippines, South Korea, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Spain to attend, the convention sought to focus on Pope Leo XIV’s unifying episcopal motto: “In the One, we are one.”

Coming together in the order’s principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, the gathering represented the Knights’ commitment to spreading the Gospel and building up Christ’s Church, even to the ends of the earth.

The convention opened Aug. 4 with a special Mass celebrated by Denver Archbishop James R. Golka, along with dozens of bishops and hundreds of priests concelebrating and deacons assisting.

Archbishop Golka a fourth-degree Knight

For the archbishop, the liturgy was personal: He is a fourth-degree Knight; his six brothers are Knights; and his late father, Robert, was a Knight, too. In fact, in 2021, the year Archbishop Golka was named bishop of Colorado Springs, his family was named Family of the Year by the Knights of Columbus Nebraska State Council.

“The Knights of Columbus exists to help our men grow in their faith, and they sure did for my dad,” Archbishop Golka said in his homily.

Recounting his own journey of faith and vocation, the archbishop highlighted God’s providence in each of our lives and in the Knights of Columbus’s work.

Facing a $252 car repair while in seminary, a young Jim Golka didn’t know where to turn except to God. After a quick, simple prayer, he checked his seminary mailbox to find a letter from the Knights of Columbus in Ogallala, Nebraska — a council he’d never visited. They had hosted a pancake breakfast and decided to split the proceeds between him and another seminarian. Archbishop Golka’s share? $253.

‘Listen to God’s will for you’

“If you listen to God’s will for you and say yes, God will absolutely take care of you, amen? And he’ll even give you an extra dollar for a cup of coffee,” he said with a chuckle. “And God wants the Knights of Columbus to help him care for his children. God wants the Knights of Columbus to help carry out God’s purposes. God wants the Knights of Columbus to live for God and God’s purposes, not ours. And when we do that, we care for the people of God.”

Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, the papal nuncio to the United States, opened an afternoon session with words of reflection on the Knights of Columbus’ mission in this apostolic age.

He also introduced a special video message from Pope Leo, who urged the Knights to be living witnesses of unity and charity in a world often marked by division. Reflecting on the convention theme, he said Christian unity must be actively nurtured through humble dialogue and bridge-building in families, parishes and communities.

Pope Leo also praised the order’s longstanding charitable work, highlighting its support for unborn children, expectant mothers, persecuted Christians, trafficking victims and others in need. The pope thanked the Knights for their service and imparted his apostolic blessing to members and their families.

Supreme Knight’s annual report

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly of the Knights of Columbus then took to the dais to deliver his annual report, a comprehensive summary of the worldwide activity of the Knights of Columbus over the past year.

Amid a lengthy litany of the Knights’ good works was a profound commitment to charity, service and love of neighbor — with over 48 million hours of volunteer service and more than $200 million given to charity worldwide, a new record for the organization. That charity was made possible, in part, due to a near record-high number of new Knights, with 105,000 men being welcomed into the order worldwide — many of them men under 35.

The number of new Knights, Kelly said, is rivaled only by the post-World War II boom of new membership.

“Just as Christ came to serve, we devote our lives to serving others, especially the vulnerable,” Kelly said. “All of our charity reflects the love of God. It’s a charity that evangelizes.”

Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly delivers his annual report Aug. 4, 2026, at the 144th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Denver. (OSV News photo/André Escaleira Jr., Denver Catholic)

Knights’ charity takes many forms

That charity took many forms: wheelchairs and warm coats to those in need; emergency response to the horrific shooting during a school Mass at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis and the natural disasters in Venezuela and Hawaii; support for persecuted and war-torn communities in the Holy Land, Ukraine, Benin and Nigeria; religious liberty advocacy; aid for wounded warriors; and partnerships with the Special Olympics and pro-life clinics.

“We are not just another charitable organization. We are not a social club,” Kelly emphasized. “We are a global brotherhood of Catholic leaders — and we are united in Jesus Christ. He is the source of our strength. And as we reflect on the past year, we give all the glory to God.”

That charity, both Archbishop Golka and Kelly emphasized, flows from communion with God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Apart from him, all charitable works come to nothing.

“We could be busy about many, many good activities, but if they have not been planted by God, they’re going to fail,” the archbishop said in his homily. “We can have good intentions, but if it’s not God’s plan, it’s going to fail, so what must we do before we do anything? Listen to God, beg God for clarity on what is his plan.”

Calling all to become experts in listening to God

Emphasizing that God already has a plan for the Knights of Columbus, for individuals, families and marriages, Archbishop Golka exhorted those gathered to become experts in listening to God.

“My brothers and sisters, whenever I look at Jesus to find out his plan, he is never anxious. He is never afraid. He’s excited to show us who he is,” the archbishop said. “So let us open our ears and our hearts and our eyes so we can know better his plan for you, for our life, for the Knights of Columbus, for the entire world, so that God can get his world back through our humble service.”

To bolster Knights’ faith and help them better hear the voice of God, the Knights of Columbus launched Cor, a small-group program meant “to give young men exactly what they are looking for — a community centered in Jesus Christ.”

In addition, Kelly announced a new video retreat in partnership with ACTS XXIX and a new video series in partnership with Denver-based Christ in the City, with reflection and practical tips to serve the homeless.

‘Rising to meet the moment’

In these ways, Kelly said, the Knights of Columbus “are rising to meet this moment,” in which interest in the Catholic Church has grown sharply, with some parishes and dioceses seeing record-high numbers of converts.

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, speaks Aug. 4, 2026, at the 144th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus in Denver. (OSV News photo/André Escaleira Jr., Denver Catholic)

“These converts are searching for compelling answers. They are fleeing the isolation and incoherence that define our time,” Kelly explained. “They need real friendship and real connection — and they are finding it in the Catholic Church.”

Kelly concluded his report by lifting up Kendrick Castillo as a perfect exemplar of this youthful zeal for faith and service. Castillo, 18, jumped in front of a gunman at the Highlands Ranch STEM School in suburban Denver, giving his life to save the lives of his classmates when he was fatally shot May 7, 2019.

Known for his service to the community through the Knights of Columbus, Castillo had always desired to join the order but had only just become old enough at the time of his death. So, in 2019, the Knights of Columbus posthumously welcomed him.  The Diocese of Colorado Springs continues to review his life for a potential cause of canonization.

“We will always look up to your son, our brother Knight, Kendrick Castillo!” Kelly promised, turning to John and Maria Castillo, Kendrick’s parents, who were present in the audience.

Pope Leo XIV message to the Knights of Columbus at Supreme Convention

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• video message

Pope to Knights of Columbus: Be prophets of harmony in an age of division

Pope Leo urges the Knights of Columbus to be “prophets of harmony” by fostering unity through dialogue and serving those most in need through works of charity.

By Vatican News

Pope Leo has encouraged the Knights of Columbus to become “prophets of harmony” by building bridges and promoting reconciliation in a world increasingly marked by division.

The Pope made the appeal in a video message addressed to participants in the Order’s 144th Supreme Convention, taking place in Denver, Colorado, on 4 August.

Greeting those attending in person and virtually, Pope Leo reflected on the gathering’s theme “In The One, We Are One,” and on the virtues of unity and charity, two foundational principles of the Knights of Columbus.

Unity must be cultivated

Recalling Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper that his disciples “might all be one,” the Pope stressed that unity is a gift entrusted to every generation of believers.

“The preservation of unity is often not easy, and it cannot be taken for granted,” he said. “It must be actively cultivated through honest and humble dialogue.”

Pope Leo therefore encouraged the Knights to bear witness to the concord desired by Christ, beginning within their families and parishes and extending to the wider communities in which they live and serve.

“In an age all too often marked by division and pointed rhetoric, there is a great need for prophets of harmony who seek to build bridges and strive to reconcile opposing positions wherever possible,” he said.

Charity strengthens communion

Turning to charity, the Holy Father noted that works carried out on behalf of those in need can themselves become a path towards unity.

“When we reach out to help those in need, there frequently develops a certain concord between those who give and those who receive, as well as among those who work together to assist their brothers and sisters,” he said.

“Thus, charity becomes not only a response to human suffering but also a powerful means of fostering fraternity and strengthening the communion that is at the heart of the Christian life.”

Serving those on the margins

Pope Leo praised the Knights of Columbus for continuing the mission begun by their founder, Blessed Michael McGivney.

For well over a century, he noted, the Order has worked to show Christ’s love “to the unborn, expectant mothers, persecuted Christians, victims of war and human trafficking, the poor and vulnerable, and those who live on the margins of society.”

Through initiatives undertaken by local councils and at national and international levels, he added, “countless people have benefitted” from the Order’s generosity.

“For my part, I express deep gratitude for your Order’s continued generosity to the less fortunate, and trust that your endeavors will continue to bear fruit for many years to come,” the Pope said.

Concluding his message, Pope Leo entrusted the work of the Supreme Convention to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and Blessed Michael McGivney, before imparting his Apostolic Blessing upon all members of the Knights of Columbus and their families.

The Relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in United States thanks to Knights of Columbus

 

Sacred Heart visionary’s relics travel US amid nation’s 250th anniversary

Gina Christian

Jun 28, 2026

People venerate the major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque at St. James Cathedral in Orlando, Fla., June 12, 2026. The Knights of Columbus brought the relics of the French Visitation nun and mystic to the United States for a multi-city tour. The saint experienced visions of Jesus revealing his Sacred Heart. (OSV News photo/Paul Haring, Knights of Columbus)

The relics of the French nun to whom Christ revealed his Sacred Heart will be available for public veneration in the U.S. at a number of locations, as the nation – newly consecrated to the Sacred Heart – marks its 250th anniversary.

The Knights of Columbus announced June 23 that major relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque will travel to Washington and Baltimore from June 29 through July 5.

The relics – which include the saint’s clavicles, two of her ribs and a small piece of her brain – arrived in the U.S. in early June, ahead of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ formal consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart during their annual spring plenary assembly in Orlando, Florida.

The lay leader of the Knights of Columbus in France, Arnaud Bouthéon, personally supervised the relics’ transatlantic transfer from the Chapel of the Apparitions at the Monastery of the Visitation in Parais-le-Monial, where they are housed along with a wax effigy of the 17th-century saint’s body.

Between 1673 and 1675, the Visitation nun experienced visions of Christ showing his Sacred Heart and calling on humanity to experience his love, mercy and tenderness.

The devotion – with roots in Scripture and patristic writings, and widely extolled by a number of popes – spread through the efforts of St. Claude La Colombière, the Jesuit confessor of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and the Society of Jesus.

The saint’s relics were on display from June 24-27 at the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center in New Haven, Connecticut.

From June 29 through July 4, the relics will be available for public veneration at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington. Access hours vary slightly during that time, with the relics on public display from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 29-July 1, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 2-4.

From July 5-6, the relics will be available at Baltimore’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Public veneration will begin with a 10:30 a.m. Mass on July 5 celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, and will last until 7 p.m. that day. On July 6, the relics will be available from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the basilica.

Following public veneration in Baltimore, the relics will return to the Blessed Michael McGivney Center for viewing July 8-11 and July 15-18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The relics are scheduled to be transported to Denver Aug. 1-6 for the Knights of Columbus’ annual convention, after which they will return to the center in New Haven for public veneration Sept. 25-27.

A powerful and strong reminder to my brother Knights of Columbus

 

Knights of Columbus Affirms ‘Solidarity’ With Pope Leo XIV as Trump Escalates Criticism

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly is asking Catholics to pray for the Pope and the president, as President Trump again criticized Leo’s comments about the Iran war.

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly (right) speaks at the Symposium on Young American Men, a national conversation on restoring purpose, flourishing, and belonging, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 3, 2025. Looking on is Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma. (photo: Matthew H. Barrick)

Statement From Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly: In recent days, many Catholics and other people of goodwill have been deeply disappointed by the disparaging comments directed at Pope Leo XIV by the President of the United States. The Successor of Saint Peter is not a politician — he is the Vicar of Christ, entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel and shepherding souls. The Knights of Columbus has always stood in solidarity with the Holy Father, recognizing in him a spiritual father who calls the world not to division, but to unity, not to conflict, but to peace. In this moment, we reaffirm that commitment with clarity and conviction. At the same time, we recognize that faithful Catholics can and do engage vigorously in the public square, and that nations have a right and duty to safeguard the security of their own people — always in accordance with the demands of justice and the pursuit of peace. The Church does not ask Catholics to withdraw from civic life, but to engage with and elevate it — bringing to our civic dialogue the light of truth, respect for the dignity of every human person, and a steadfast concern for the common good. Pope Leo XIV has consistently called for peace, dialogue, and restraint in a world marked by war and suffering. The Holy Father’s words are not political talking points — they are reflections of the Gospel itself. Whether one agrees or disagrees with particular policy judgments, the Holy Father’s prophetic voice deserves to be heard with respect and engaged seriously. As Knights, we are called to be men of unity, as followers of Christ and patriotic citizens. I encourage all Knights of Columbus to pray for the Holy Father, to pray for civic leaders, and to pray for peace and those working to achieve it. And let us recommit ourselves to charity in our public discourse. May we be known not for echoing the divisions of our time, but for healing them. In a moment of tension, the path forward is not louder conflict, but deeper fidelity — to truth, to charity, and to the Gospel.

Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus reminds us that we stand in solidarity with Pope Leo XIV

 

In recent days, many Catholics and other people of goodwill have been deeply disappointed by the disparaging comments directed at Pope Leo XIV by the President of the United States. The Successor of Saint Peter is not a politician — he is the Vicar of Christ, entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel and shepherding souls.

The Knights of Columbus has always stood in solidarity with the Holy Father, recognizing in him a spiritual father who calls the world not to division, but to unity, not to conflict, but to peace. In this moment, we reaffirm that commitment with clarity and conviction.

At the same time, we recognize that faithful Catholics can and do engage vigorously in the public square, and that nations have a right and duty to safeguard the security of their own people — always in accordance with the demands of justice and the pursuit of peace. The Church does not ask Catholics to withdraw from civic life, but to engage with and elevate it — bringing to our civic dialogue the light of truth, respect for the dignity of every human person, and a steadfast concern for the common good.

Pope Leo XIV has consistently called for peace, dialogue, and restraint in a world marked by war and suffering. The Holy Father’s words are not political talking points — they are reflections of the Gospel itself. Whether one agrees or disagrees with particular policy judgments, the Holy Father’s prophetic voice deserves to be heard with respect and engaged seriously.

As Knights, we are called to be men of unity, as followers of Christ and patriotic citizens. I encourage all Knights of Columbus to pray for the Holy Father, to pray for civic leaders, and to pray for peace and those working to achieve it. And let us recommit ourselves to charity in our public discourse. May we be known not for echoing the divisions of our time, but for healing them. In a moment of tension, the path forward is not louder conflict, but deeper fidelity — to truth, to charity, and to the Gospel.

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly

Knights of Columbus
1 Columbus Plaza
New Haven, CT 06510

Saint Joseph: Terror of Demons by Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly

 St. Joseph's Feast Day is today; actually, it is a Solemnity!  St. Joseph is honored as one of the=he Church's greatest Saints and powerful intercessors.  St. Joseph has many titles; the most striking and my personal favorite is Terror of Demons.

Why is St. Joseph such a strong protector in spiritual warfare and why is his help so needed today?

In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that he is a "just man" (Mt 1:19) and not a single word of his own is ever recorded.  His actions speak volumes and help us understand why demons would fear him.

Joseph was a man of deep humility and never sought his own will but sacrificed to follow God's will.  We know that he was prepared to divorce Mary quietly when she was found with child; he did not want her to be exposed to shame or worse.  An angel appeared to Joseph and told him, "Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.  It is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her."  (Mt 1:19-20).

This carpenter set aside all fear and took a leap of faith.  He trusted completely in God's providence and accepted the call to be the earthly father of Jesus, the Son of God.  His yes had enormous consequences; he protected the Holy Family from all manner of evil and helped raise Jesus to manhood under his and Mary's watchful care.  In a hidden yet essential role, Joseph made possible the unfolding of Christ's saving mission.  

St. Joseph was a man of obedience.  Every message received from the Lord was met without hesitation.  He did not argue or delay; he acted immediately to protect those entrusted to him.  When warned that Herod sought to kill the child, Joseph rose and took Jesus & Mary by night to Egypt.  (Mt 2:14).

The humility and obedience of Joseph stand in stark contrast to the pride and rebellion of Satan.  This is why St. Joseph is such a spiritual ally in the fight against evil.

A priest with the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal - a Catholic ministry that serves people seeking deliverance from demonic influence shares a compelling testimony.  During an exorcism of a woman eventually delivered from demonic possession, the Litany of St. Joseph was prayed aloud.  At the invocation "St. Joseph, Terror of Demons," the demons reacted violently.  Afterward, the woman explained that it was clear the demons were shaken by the prayers offered in his name.  She even described a vivid sense of the spiritual presence of St. Joseph in the room; a moment she will never forget.

St. Josemaria Escriva once observed, "The greatest saint in the history of the Church is not a pope, cardinal, bishop, priest or friar.  The greatest Saint in the history of the Church is a layman, a husband, a father and a worker."

As we strive to live our vocations faithfully and confront the forces of evil in our own time - in our homes, our parishes and society, let us look to St. Joseph as a model of authentic masculinity: humble, obedient, courageous.  He is the Terror of Demons, and his quiet strength remains an enduring source of protection for us today.

Vivat Jesus!

{Written by Patrick E. Kelly, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus for KNIGHTLINE, volume 44, #11.

The Knights of Columbus visit Pope Leo XIV in Rome who thanked them for their Pro-Life ministries

 

Pope Leo greets the Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus on October 6, 2025  (@VATICAN MEDIA)

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• charitable organizations
• United States
• audiences

Pope thanks Knights of Columbus for upholding sanctity of life

Pope Leo XIV thanks the Knights of Columbus for their charitable activity to support the work of the Holy Father, as well as for their efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life in all its stages.

By Devin Watkins

The Board of Directors of the Knights of Columbus, a global Catholic fraternal service order founded in 1882, are visiting Rome during the Jubilee of Hope.

As part of their pilgrimage, Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Board to thank them for their many charitable works around the world.

In his address, the Pope said tens of millions of pilgrims have already come to the Eternal City during the Holy Year.

One of the pieces of art that they undoubtedly see is the baldacchino of Gian Lorenzo Bernini in St. Peter’s Basilica, which, he said, "now shines forth in all of its original beauty after the first comprehensive restoration in its history.”

Another is Bernini’s bronze monument that houses the Cathedra of St. Peter, which was also restored in 2024.

Pope Leo thanked the Knights of Columbus for making these restorations possible through their charitable activity.

“These masterpieces,” he said, “help all who look upon them to contemplate two of the principal tenets of our faith: the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the Pope as the Successor of Peter who unites and guides the Church.”

The Pope said the Knights’ charity to assist the Holy See in these projects offers “a visible sign of your continued devotion to the Vicar of Christ.”

“Throughout its history, the Order has supported the charitable work of the Roman Pontiff in a variety of ways, including through the Vicarius Christi Fund, which allows him to express solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable throughout the world,” he said.

Turning to their outreach through local Councils throughout the world, Pope Leo said the Knights of Columbus seek to bring Christ’s love and compassion to their local communities.

He said the Knights bring men together to “uphold the sanctity of human life in all of its stages, assist victims of war and natural disasters, and support priestly vocations.”

In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV wished the Board of Directors and their families a fruitful pilgrimage, praying that their time in Rome will “nourish your faith, confirm you in hope, and deepen your love for the Church.”

“May you be strengthened to continue the worthy mission begun by your noble founder,” Blessed Michael McGivney.

Could this Colorado teenager be a Saint?

 

This Colorado teen died saving others in a school shooting — is he a future saint?

Kendrick Castillo, a Catholic, is pictured in an undated photo. The 18-year-old senior at the STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado lost his life May 7, 2019, trying to protect fellow students from a shooter. Bishop James R. Golka of Colorado Springs, Colo., announced in late July 2025 his office would "study and discern" the "massive undertaking" of determining whether to open a sainthood cause for Castillo. (OSV News photo/Knights of Columbus)

(OSV News) — The bishop of Colorado Springs, Colorado, announced in late July his office would “study and discern” the “massive undertaking” of determining whether to open a sainthood cause for a teenager who was killed after he tackled the shooter during a school shooting incident six years ago in suburban Denver.

Eighteen-year-old Kendrick Castillo was the only student who died in the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting on May 7, 2019, that left eight students injured. Because of his actions, no other students lost their lives in the shooting, according to local officials.

Two students, 16-year-old Alec McKinney and 18-year-old Devon Erickson, were convicted on dozens of charges for carrying out the shooting and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Months after Kendrick’s death, the Knights of Columbus conferred honorary membership on him and gave his parents a Caritas Medal, their second highest honor. 

Priests submit petition for Colorado teen

Two priests from St. Mark Catholic Church in Highlands Ranch submitted the petition and preliminary supporting materials for a possible sainthood cause for Kendrick to Colorado Springs Bishop James R. Golka.

“When I was assigned here and they were talking about changing the name of this street over here” in honor of the teen, explained Father Patrick DiLoreto, whose first assignment as a newly ordained priest was at St. Mark starting July 2024. 

“It just was something that kept coming up on my heart, every single time I got onto Kendrick Castillo Way,” he told OSV News, adding that it was like “an invitation to talk to Father Bierbaum about this process. And when I did talk to him about it, he said that it was on his mind as well and so we took that as a sign that ‘OK, maybe the Holy Spirit does want us to pursue this.'”

Father Gregory Bierbaum, pastor at St. Mark, where Kendrick’s parents John and Maria Castillo are new parishioners, did not know the boy personally, but said he was called to minister at the shooting scene. He attended Kendrick’s funeral Mass and has followed his story for the past six years.

“And being so impressed, just moved and touched in my heart about what Kendrick had done to literally throw himself on the shooter, thereby saving however many lives, we don’t know. But … in our interviews with his parents and Father’s (DiLoreto’s) other research, Kendrick also exhibited really wonderful piety and strong Catholic faith in his life in general, even before this heroic action. He was very evangelistic,” he said.

Father Bierbaum told OSV News he learned that Kendrick would often talk to his peers about the faith. 

A chair sits empty in honor of Kendrick Castillo at the STEM School Highlands Ranch graduation in Colorado May 20, 2019. Castillo, a Catholic, was an 18-year-old senior at the school when he lost his life trying to protect fellow students from a shooter, and posthumously made an honorary Knight of Columbus. Bishop James R. Golka of Colorado Springs, Colo., announced in late July 2025 his office would “study and discern” the “massive undertaking” of determining whether to open a sainthood cause for Castillo. (OSV News photo/courtesy Knights of Columbus Council 4844)

Kendrick Castillo lived faith joyfully

The boy, who was days away from high school graduation and planning to study aerospace engineering, never had a photo taken in which he was not smiling, according to John Castillo in a 2023 “Fallen Hero” video honoring Kendrick Castillo at the inaugural Douglas County Heroes Gala. 

In the video, John said his son, who excelled at robotics and engineering, transferred to the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, charter school — on the recommendation of a teacher from his Catholic school — which was equipped with the technology and labs that his son was “to the moon” excited about.

“Kendrick took what he learned in his Catholic faith in private school and marched it right into that public charter school,” said John, a Knight of Columbus from the South West Denver Council. “Kendrick went into that school not knowing anybody, and brought his personality, his talent and his love for people” whom he easily made friends with.

The video showed footage of Kendrick’s bedroom, which included a bed draped with more than a dozen medals on colorful ribbons; satiny award ribbons hanging from the frame of a memorial photo of the smiling Kendrick, arms open wide, with the quote from John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”; a Bible among other articles on the shelf above his bed, and several NASA labeled accessories.

According to the Kendrick Castillo memorial website of the Castillo family, a Douglas County committee is raising funds for a monument in his honor at a local park and to create a robotics scholarship in his name. 

The priests submitted 80 pages of material to Bishop Golka, which included an interview with Kendrick’s parents. They said they collected enough preliminary information to classify him under three of the four means by which to become a saint. These include the new category created by the late Pope Francis of “offering of life” in which one gave up one’s life for the good of another, martyrdom, or one who displayed heroic virtue. (The fourth means is a reputation for holiness).

“It became very clear to us from John and Maria’s sharing the story of their son’s life that he was an authentically holy person,” said Father Bierbaum. “Now, that’s not Father or I making that determination officially for the church, but that was the sense that we got … even before the heroic act, he just lived a life that was so (much) one of faith and service and holiness and caring for others.”

A ‘Catalyst of Love’

In a December 2019 posting on the Knights of Columbus website, John Castillo called his son “a catalyst of love” whose devotion to God was “number one.” The teen, who volunteered with his father at Knights events, was planning to join the order after graduating from high school. His father said that, for Kendrick, “nothing was more important than helping someone else.”

“All of these virtuous acts that he did throughout his life, on a personal level, I am convinced, led to him … to do what he was able to do, of course, with the grace of our Lord. But yet the building up of that virtue makes responding to that grace possible. And I’m certain that allowed him to do what he did that day, that led to many lives being saved,” said Father DiLoreto. 

In the July 29 statement from Bishop Golka on receiving the materials from the two priests, the prelate said “it seems clear that Kendrick was an exceptional young man.” The bishop urged “everyone” to privately seek the young man’s intercession to God, “praying especially for the youth in our diocese, that they emulate his example of fortitude and generosity.”

The two priests also encouraged private prayer for his intercession and confirmed that after their submission was made public, some of the faithful told them they had already been doing that ever since Kendrick’s death.