
Father Richard Kunst, Curator & Commentator
This is a very unique piece because it’s a letter someone had written to him. Remember that he was Pope at the time. Someone wrote to him asking for a dispensation from the Eucharistic fast. Now, no one would write a letter today to the Pope asking for such a dispensation. I mean, you just don’t do that! You would go to your pastor. But he was very good, and he wrote back, giving the dispensation. And then he signed off on it. And so it’s a very unique item.
We can imagine the kinds of requests Popes get on a regular basis, even today. And this was a strange request to ask of any Pope, even 100 years ago.
It’s also unique in that it’s on very simple paper. It’s on the actual sheet of paper containing the request. The Pope just took that letter and answered right on it, and then he sent it back to the person. So it contains both the request and the answer.
You see his name, ‘Benedictus PP XV’. ‘PP’, of course, meaning, ‘Papa’.
And he responded here very much like a papa. In several lines in his own hand, he was answering this very simple request. He really put time into helping this one individual.
It is dated July 1, 1918. So it’s quite an old piece of paper and quite an old item.—-Father Richard Kunst
Papal Artifacts honors and offers gratitude to Pope Benedict XV for the gift of his life to our Church!
- Benedict XV Zucchetto
- Large Photo Blessing from Pope Benedict XV
- Pocket Watch Belonging to Pope Benedict XV with His Coat of Arms
- Rosary Belonging to Pope Benedict XV, Pope at the Time of Fatima
- Portrait of Pope Benedict XV in a Presentation Frame with Signature (coat of arms)
- Pope Benedict XV: A Fountain Pen Used by the Pope
- Benedict XV: A Handkerchief Used by the Pope with Embossed Signature
- Pope Benedict XV 1 page letter with coat of arms seal at the top
- Small Card Signed by Pope Benedict XV as Giacomo della Chiesa
- A Police Helmet with Papal Coat of Arms
- Benedict XV Jolie Medal
- Benedict XV: The Pope’s Peace Offering Calendar
- The Signature and a Blessing from Pope Benedict XV
- Drafted Unsigned Letter From Benedict XV’s Time as Substitute Secretary of State For Leo XIII