Archbishop Filippo Iannone presents Peter's Pence at course for newly appointed bishops

Archbishop Filippo Iannone presented the history and nature of Peter's Pence to newly appointed bishops during a formation course in Rome on September 8. The session, held at the Pontifical Urbaniana University, was part of training organized by the Dicastery for Evangelization and the Dicastery for Bishops.

Iannone, the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, described Peter's Pence as a voluntary offering given directly by the faithful to the Pope. He compared the collection to the small gift of the widow in the Gospel, noting it represents heartfelt generosity rather than abundance.

The Archbishop explained that the practice was officially established in the seventh century as the Denarius Sancti Petri under King Offa of Mercia. While it functioned as a regular tax tribute during the Middle Ages that faced disputes due to abuses, the practice ended during the Protestant Reformation until Pope Pius IX revived it.