The annual Peter’s Pence Collection, a tradition of support for the Pope, will be taken up in parishes June 27 across the world.
The collection occurs yearly on the Sunday closest to June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, as a sign that Catholics worldwide are joined together in support of the Holy Father.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in materials promoting the collection, said funds raised are a response to the scriptural message to take care of the poor, “and is an expression of unity with the Holy Father.”The collection establishes this “through the ongoing activities of the Holy See and through the charitable works of the Holy Father on behalf of those most in need.”
Funds from the collection have recently assisted with the building of a new medical facility in Bangui in the Central African Republic. During a 2015 visit, Pope Francis toured the city’s pediatric hospital with a donation of medicines, promising that he would not forget the country’s children. He was able to keep his promise with the Peter’s Pence contributions, which helped to renovate the existing hospital and build a new facility specifically for malnourished children.
“The concrete participation in the needs of the universal ecclesial community has taken different forms throughout history,” the USCCB explained. “Collections and donations by the individual faithful or entire local churches raise awareness that all the baptized are called to materially sustain the work of evangelization and, at the same time, to help the poor in whatever way possible. By doing so, they build up the Church so that it will continue to minister to all for generations to come.”