Nashville, USA - The Vatican's No. 2 official — making his first U.S. appearance since taking over as secretary of state last year — celebrated Mass at the Knights of Columbus annual meeting in Tennessee and pledged to work for sainthood for the group's founder.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone conveyed Pope Benedict XVI's "cordial greetings" and used his Mass homily Tuesday to speak about the origins of the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal organization for Catholic men considered one of the world's largest lay Catholic groups.
He praised the work of the Knights of Columbus founder, the Rev. Michael J. McGivney, and said he would work to have the U.S.-born priest declared a saint.
"The plight of Catholics in America was far from easy," said Bertone, who was appointed to his post in September 2006. "Through the organization he (McGivney) founded, he reached out beyond the boundaries of his parishes to members of the Catholic community throughout America, many of whom were in great need.
"Widows and orphans who might otherwise have suffered destitution have been offered charitable assistance and fraternal support."
Attending the convention, which runs through Thursday, are more than 1,000 delegates representing Knights of Columbus members. About 100 bishops from the U.S., Canada, the Vatican and throughout the world are also attending.
"During this celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice, let us join our intentions to those of His Holiness in prayerful gratitude for the good works carried out by the Knights of Columbus and in humble supplication for the success of your convention and the fruitfulness of your apostolate," Bertone said.
Founded in 1882 by McGivney at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut, the Knights of Columbus was created as an organization for Catholic men who were discriminated against for their religion and immigrant origins.
The Knights of Columbus currently has 1.7 million members and donated more than $139 million and 64 million hours of volunteer service to charitable causes in 2005 — including $10 million to Gulf Coast residents and Catholic groups affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Its charitable work also includes substantial support for the Vatican. The group funded the restoration of the facade of St. Peter's Basilica during the 1980s, and annually underwrites the cost of satellite TV broadcasts of liturgical celebrations from Vatican City, including the Christmas midnight Mass.
The organization has also established a $20 million endowment called the Vicarius Christi Fund, whose annual proceeds are provided to the pope in support of his charitable initiatives.
Bertone brought a message from the pope that was read during the Tuesday afternoon session of the convention at the Gaylord Opryland hotel.
The pope said he was praying for the Knights of Columbus during the convention and praised the group for promoting the church's mission of proclaiming the Gospel and helping the destitute and others in need.
"I send my best wishes to you. I'm especially pleased his eminence (Bertone) has been able to travel to the U.S. in person in order to be with you and convey my greetings," according to the message read by an interpreter.
"The Second Vatican Council teaches the lay faithful have an active part to play in the life and activity of the church."
Convention attendees also heard a short prepared video message from President Bush, who said he appreciated the Knights of Columbus work toward establishing a "culture of life" in the U.S.
Bush asked the group to continue to work with his administration in support of abstinence and adoption programs and to support the "humanity of the unborn."
"I ask you to continue to pray for our country," Bush said. "America is a better nation because of the works of the Knights of Columbus."
Bertone received the organization's Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope) award — the highest honor bestowed by the group. He also received a $100,000 (€72,495) honorarium that he said he would devote to various charity endeavors.
"Let it never be forgotten that, besides prayer and witness to the Gospel, an integral part of the Church's mission is service to our brothers and sisters, especially those who suffer material or spiritual adversity," Bertone told the audience at a dinner Tuesday night.
Bertone, 72, is the seventh person to receive the award. The first recipient was Mother Teresa in 1992.
In 1995, Pope John Paul II appointed Bertone as Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he worked closely with then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. In 2003, he was installed as Archbishop of Genoa and was made a cardinal the same year.