This weekend in all Catholic churches all over the world including Malta there will be the 'Peter's Pence' collection.

The collection officially dates back to the 1860s, but has its roots in ninth-century England, when the king collected money - a 'pence' - from landowners as financial support for the pope.

In Malta the collection is not properly marketed. At most, an advance notice of the collection is given the Sunday before, together will several other parish notices.

This is a very important fund-raising activity helping to finance the myriad charitable and similar activities conducted by the Holy See in the name of the Pope. It is an occasion to show one's solidarity both with the Pope and with people in need.

Money raised through the collection goes to the Vatican to allow the Pope to provide emergency financial assistance to victims of wars, oppression, diseases and natural disasters around the world.

The theme chosen for this year's collection is 'Christ Our Hope', which ties in with the two encyclical letters Pope Benedict has penned so far - 'God Is Love' and 'Saved By Hope'.

Both encyclicals communicate different important aspects of being a Christian. This morning please give generously.