” “Today, at the Vatican, there was the traditional hearing of Benedict XVI for the members of Circolo San Pietro, who gave the Pope the collection of Peter’s pence, which they carried out in the parishes and the institutes of the diocese of Rome. “The old practice of Peter’s pence, – said the Pope, – springs from the awareness that every believer is asked to support the evangelization work from the material point of view, too, and at the same time, he is invited to help the poor and the destitute with generosity”. This practice continues in present days, too: “as a matter of fact, in every diocese, in every parish and religious community, Peter’s pence is annually collected, which is then transmitted to the Church centre to be distributed in accordance with the needs and requests reaching the Pope from all over the world”. “In the current times, too, – added Benedict XVI – the Church is going on diffusing the Gospel and cooperating for the construction of a more brotherly and sympathetic mankind. And exactly thanks also to Peter’s pence, the Church is enabled to fulfil this evangelization mission and the work of human promotion”. The oblations of the Romans, recalled the Pope, are “the sign of their gratitude for the pastoral and charity action of Peter’s Successor”. ” “
