Vatican City, 15 December, 2021 / 8:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis has approved the creation of a new foundation promoting spirituality, art, formation, and dialogue in the environs of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican announced on Wednesday.
The Holy See press office said on Dec. 15 that the pope had issued a decree known as a chirograph establishing the Fratelli tutti Foundation, named after his 2020 encyclical on fraternity and social friendship.
In the decree, dated Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the pope wrote: “I have learned with satisfaction that the Fabric of St. Peter, together with some of the faithful, wish to join together to establish a Foundation of Religion and Worship intended to collaborate in spreading the principles set out in my recent encyclical, Fratelli tutti, to encourage initiatives linked to spirituality, art, education, and dialogue with the world, around St. Peter's Basilica and in the embrace of its colonnade.”
“I therefore gladly accede to the request expressed to me to establish in the State of Vatican City an autonomous foundation for the above-mentioned purposes.”
The pope also approved the new body’s statutes.