Franciscan reform seen in Papal Charities office appointment

Last updated on: October 16, 2013 at 10:02 pm by CNA Daily News

Franciscan reform seen in Papal Charities office appointment 2013-10-16T22:02:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Oct 16, 2013 / 04:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis' Oct. 12 appointment of Monsignor Diego Ravelli as office chief of the Office of Papal Charities rounds out the bureau which delivers charity to the poor in the name of the Roman Pontiff.

Already on Aug. 3, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, a priest of the Lódz diocese in Poland, was appointed head of the office, or almoner.

Traditionally, the pontifical almoner sends parchments with the Papal blessing to those who request them, and with the proceeds, as well as with other offerings, he sends a “modest donation” to those in need. The pontifical almoner also accompanies the Pope at official appearances and during international trips.

But under Pope Francis, Archbishop Krajewski's role is to be something more.

Since both Archbishop Krajewski and Monsignor Ravelli have been part of the office of the papal master of ceremonies, it would seem that Pope Francis wishes to mark his pontificate with a sort of “liturgy of the poor.”

The archbishop recounted to L'Osservatore Romano Oct. 4 that Pope Francis immediately explained to him the way he wanted to re-design his office.

“You will not stay behind a desk signing parchments,” Pope Francis told Archbishop Krajewski. “I want you always among the people. In Buenos Aires I often went out in the evening to go find the poor. Now I no longer can: it is difficult for me to leave the Vatican. You will do it for me.”

Through Archbishop Krajewski, Pope Francis has already sent a $270 check to an old woman from Marghera, in northern Italy, who had been robbed of the wallet containing only $73.

Pope Francis also sent his almoner to buy international phone cards to be delivered to the refugees who survived the Oct. 3 shipwreck in Lampedusa, so that they might get in touch with their families.

Archbishop Krajewski was at Lampedusa four days later, saying Mass, blessing the corpses of those who died, and saying the rosary together with Archbishop Francesco Montenegro of Agrigento and Fr. Stefano Nastasi, Lampedusa's parish priest.

Following that, he visited the survivors, giving them consolation from the Pope as well as financial aid and the phone cards.

Archbishop Krajewski's activism is something new to the Office of Papal Charities.

Archbishop Guido Pozzo, who was papal almoner until Archbishop Krajewski's appointment, told L’Osservatore Romano Dec. 29 that in 2011 his office had delivered some $1.2 million in response to 7,000 requests for aid.

He explained that “the almoners' donations are of modest amount, in order to extend the aid we can give to the biggest number of people.” He also stressed that anyone's “request for financial aid must come together with a written acknowledgment of their parish priest.”

In accord with Pope Francis' mind, however, Archbishop Krajewski will not be waiting for parish priests' written acknowledgments.

He recounted to L'Osservatore Romano that “if, for example, our office gets a request for an aid to pay an electricity bill, I would go to visit that family and see with my very eyes what their conditions are.”

Vatican

Previous Post

October 16, 2013

Spanish martyrs show victory of love over hate, says bishop

Next Post

October 17, 2013 Health and development non-profit expands work to Peru

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first Nazarite?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Samuel Samson David Eli