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

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

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

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

Thepurpose of the Peter’s Pence Collection is to provide the pope with thefinancial means to respond with emergency assistance to those who are sufferingas a result of war, oppression, natural disaster and disease. This collectionwas started centuries ago to provide financial support for the pope and hasevolved 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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