Papal Blessings for Charity

As a parish we get many requests for papal blessings for many different occasions.  Vatican Radio released this important information today:

Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the head of the Holy Father’s Alms-giving office (“Elemosineria”), has confirmed that as of 1 January 2015, papal blessings will no longer be available from stores and businesses outside the Vatican.

In a note, the apostolic Almoner recalls that the Alms-giving office is tasked with carrying out “works of charity for the poor in the name of the Supreme Pontiff” and that the resources needed to do so derive from donations raised from the blessings.

In the past, the office had collaborated with stores and institutions outside the Vatican to permit a greater number of faithful to obtain the blessings.  In recent years, however, the faithful have been able to order blessings directly from the charitable office after obtaining information from its website www.elemosineria.va . For the English information page, click here:
The scrolls can be ordered directly in the Vatican, or by sending a special order form via mail or by fax.  The scrolls are shipped almost anywhere in the world.

Msgr. Krajewski notes that as of last September, Pope Francis also extended to apostolic nuncios  the right to grant papal blessings on parchment paper.

Go read the rest here.

One can go to this vatican link to order them directly 

The Elemosineria Apostolica is the organ of the Holy See which has the remit of dispensing charity to the needy on behalf of the Supreme Pontiff.
As a way of raising funds for the works of charity entrusted to this Office, Pope Leo XIII gave the Almoner the right of granting Papal Blessings by the signature of the Almoner and the embossed stamp of the office.

It must be pointed out that the granting of the Papal Blessing is absolutely free and that the payment requested is only a contribution towards the cost of the parchment and to defray the expenses of wrapping and postage. All money paid to the Elemosineria Apostolica for blessing is used for the Holy Father’s works of charity.