Peter’s Pence Collection Helps Cast The ‘Peace Of Christ’ Upon The World

WASHINGTON— Later this month, Catholics in the United States have the opportunity to help Pope Benedict XVI in his assistance to Catholics in all parts of the world including poor dioceses where many people depend on the Church for support, areas where the Church is persecuted and must serve discreetly, and nations that are overwhelmed with refugees or victims of war and natural disasters.

The Peter’s Pence Collection, which will be taken up the weekend of June 23-24 in most U.S. dioceses, provides assistance for all of these populations. The theme of the collection for 2012 is, “Cast the peace of Christ upon the world.”

“Our participation in the Peter’s Pence Collection gives us an opportunity to extend a sign of peace to the Body of Christ around the world,” said Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of Dallas, chairman of the Committee on National Collections of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The purpose of the Peter’s Pence Collection is to provide the pope with the financial means to respond with emergency assistance to those who are suffering as a result of war, oppression, natural disaster and disease. This collection was started centuries ago to provide financial support for the pope and has evolved to fund the Vatican’s charitable actions for those in need.

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Keywords: Peter’s Pence, National Collections, USCCB, U.S. bishops, Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Father, pope, charity, poor, suffering, war, oppression, natural disaster, disease, June 24, dioceses

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