Everybody welcome, Everything free

Richly illustrated with pictures, texts and artifacts, the exhibit Everybody Welcome, Everything Free: Celebrating 90 years of Friendship Between the Knights of Columbus and the City of Rome takes visitors through nearly a century of a Catholic American organization’s friendship and dedicated service to the Eternal City. See fragments of the Allied bombs that fell on the Knights of Columbus’ San Lorenzo playground in 1943. Read the original letter from Pope Pius XII to U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt - carried by the Knights of Columbus’ representative in Rome - pleading that Rome be spared from Allied bombing. Discover how the Knights of Columbus built playgrounds throughout Rome amid economic turbulence in the 1920s, and kept them running to this day - even during a war in which the United States and Italy were adversaries. Learn how the Knights of Columbus was instrumental in early diplomacy between the United States and the Vatican, and how, at the organization’s 100th anniversary convention, the groundwork for official diplomatic relations was laid. See how some of the most important restoration work in Rome - including at St. Peter’s Basilica - was facilitated by the Knights, who also bring millions to Rome “virtually” through their support of television coverage of key papal Masses. Founded in 19th century America, amid intense sentiments against Catholics and immigrants, the Knights of Columbus continues to uphold its mission of defending those in need. “Everybody Welcome, Everything Free” was the motto of the Knights when they first came to Rome serving U.S. troops stationed in Italy and throughout Europe during the First World War. It was that initiative that so impressed Pope Benedict XV, that he invited the Knights to maintain a permanent presence in Rome, 90 years ago. That same spirit of service and generosity still marks the Catholic charitable organization today.