Vatican Radio reported Monday that Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the head of the Holy Father’s Alms-giving office (“Elemosineria”), has confirmed that from 1st January 2015, papal blessings will no longer be available from stores and businesses outside the Vatican.
In a note, Archbishop Krajewski, known as the apostolic almoner, wrote that his office is tasked with carrying out “works of charity for the poor in the name of the Supreme Pontiff” and that the resources needed to do so derive from donations raised from the blessings.
In the past, the office had collaborated with stores and institutions outside the Vatican to permit a greater number of faithful to obtain the blessings. In recent years, however, the faithful have been able to order blessings directly from the charitable office after obtaining information from its website www.elemosineria.va, Vatican Radio reported.
For the English information page, click here:
The scrolls can be ordered directly in the Vatican, or by sending a special order form via mail or by fax. The scrolls are shipped almost anywhere in the world.
Archbishop Krajewski noted that as of last September, Pope Francis had also extended to apostolic nuncios the right to grant papal blessings on parchment paper.
He confirmed that the decision will not affect the jobs of calligraphers who draw up the blessings. The alms-giving office has a staff of 12 and relies on a group of 17 outside specialists for assistance.
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On the NET:
