Carl Anderson: Pope to Bring 'Revolution of Virtue' to America

Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus comments on US Papal Visit from Rome as he presents his new book "A Civilization of Love".

VATICAN CITY (Zenit) - Benedict XVI will bring with him to the United States this month a "revolution of virtue," says the leader the Knights of Columbus.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, in Rome today to present his book "A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform the World," told us that the message of the Pontiff's two encyclicals is the same one the people of the United States are waiting for when he visits April 15-20.

"We are talking about a revolution of virtue, but of the theological virtues: faith, hope and love," said Anderson. "And this is the message Benedict XVI has given us with his two encyclicals, 'Deus Caritas Est," on love, and 'Spe Salvi,' on hope."

The supreme knight said that especially during this election year, Americans are waiting "in a tremendous way" to hear about "the question of change and the question of hope, and Christianity is a religion of change and a religion of hope."

Commenting on the contents of his book, Anderson said, "The effect of 9/11 it still very strong in the United States, and one of the things I suggest in the book is to discover what kind of people we are, what kind of people we want to become."

The answer to these questions, he said, is precisely in the civilization of love.

Life and death

"In such a civilization every person is a child of God. We are all intrinsically valuable. The battle today is between the culture of death (where people are judged by their social or economic value) and the culture of life," he said.

Anderson pushes aside religious differences in order to spread a message of hope to those who are wary of the constant turmoil of modern society.

"By embracing the culture of life and standing with those most marginalized and deemed "useless" or a "burden" on modern society, Christians can change the tone and direction of our culture," he affirmed.

Anderson noted that his book seeks to transcend the "clash of civilizations," because he says love isn't something exclusive to Christians. He added that he attempts to present "a road map for helping Christians understand their role in the World."

To promote this civilization of love, clarifies Anderson, implies a decision to promote life and the family.

Anderson was appointed a member of the Pontifical Council for the Family in 2007, and consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications in 2006.

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He was also appointed consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in 2003, a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in 2002 and the Pontifical Academy for Life in 1998.

Anderson is the leader of the 1.7 million members of the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization, which was founded in 1882 by the Venerable Servant of God Father Michael McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut.

Still maintaining its headquarters in New Haven, the Knights of Columbus has members in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean islands, the Philippines, Guam and, most recently, Poland.