Papal anniversary collection brings $1.27 million for Holy Land

Published: 2004-02-10

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The world's cardinals gave Pope John Paul II 1 million euros (US$1.27 million) for his 25th anniversary, and the pope has designated the funds for projects to assist Catholics in the Holy Land. A Vatican official confirmed the sum Feb. 10 and said the results of the collection had been reported to the world's 192 cardinals. Members of the College of Cardinals had been asked to contribute to the collection out of their personal resources. During the October celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the pope's election, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, had announced that 750,000 euros (US$957,000) had been collected at that point. Pope John Paul has begun distributing the money, giving 100,000 euros (US$127,000) to the Pontifical Mission for Palestine.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .