The Knights of Columbus, a prominent lay Catholic men's organization, has announced its support for the restoration of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's iconic Baldacchino above the altar of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. The project, to be carried out by the Fabbrica of St. Peter's, aims to inspect and restore every inch of the nearly 400-year-old bronze, marble, and gilded wood structure.

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly expressed the spiritual significance of the Knights' involvement, stating, "It points to the reality of God's love for us and his coming down to earth to dwell with us and to build the church upon St. Peter and his profession of faith." The Knights of Columbus has a long-standing relationship with the Vatican and the Popes, dating back over 100 years.

Kelly also extended his gratitude to Pope Francis and Cardinal Mauro Gambetti for allowing the organization to partner in this restoration project. He emphasized the Knights' commitment to serving the Church and its various projects, stating, "In addition to all the service we carry out for the poor, for our parishes and families, the Knights are very grateful for the privilege of serving the Church in this way."

The Knights of Columbus has previously supported numerous restoration projects in Rome, including the cleaning of the façade of St. Peter's Basilica in preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000 and the restoration of the Vatican Grottoes. The restoration of the Baldacchino is set to commence soon and is expected to be completed by the Jubilee Year 2025.

The project will be led by Pietro Zander, head of the Necropolis and Classical Antiquities of the Fabbrica di San Pietro in the Vatican. The Knights of Columbus has a rich history of supporting various initiatives in Rome, starting with Pope Benedict XV's request for the organization to open sports fields for the impoverished youth of Rome after World War I.

Founded in 1882 by Blessed Michael McGivney, the Knights of Columbus initially aimed to serve the needs of the immigrant Catholic community in New Haven, Connecticut. It has since grown into the world's premier lay Catholic men's organization, with over 2 million members in over 16,600 local councils.

This article is a news release issued on Thursday, Jan. 11.