Pope Francis reportedly plans to give a rare Bible to the American people when he addresses a joint session of Congress on Sept. 24.
Minnesota Benedictines and the Papal Foundation plan to present the final installment of the seven-volume St. John’s Bible to the Pope on Sept. 24, and the Pope is expected to present that bible to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and the Library of Congress when he arrives.
Titled “Letters and Revelations,” the last volume in the St. Peter Apostle’s Edition is approximately two feet tall and weighs about 14 pounds, according to St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.
The volume is signed and authenticated by Donald Jackson, the Bible’s artistic director who wrote and illuminated the entire work.
The Minneapolis-based GHR Foundation underwrote the project. The first of the seven volumes was presented to Pope Benedict in 2008.
The Vatican’s set is one of 12 produced. Two others have been acquired.
This story was updated on Aug. 24 to correct that Pope Francis will give the Library of Congress an Apostle’s Edition of the bible, and not a bible presented to the pope back in April.
