RCL Benziger Presents Be My Disciples to Pope Francis

Pope Francis Blesses Religious Education Program

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May 14, 2014, 09:00 ET

CINCINNATI, May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RCL Benziger President Peter M. Esposito presented to His Holiness, Pope Francis, the Catholic publisher's new Be My Disciples religious education program for Catholic schools and parishes. Mr. Esposito met the Holy Father after his general audience on May 7, 2014, in Rome, Italy. Also in attendance were Jo Rotunno, publisher, and Anne Battes, associate publisher.

RCL Benziger President Peter M. Esposito (right) and Publisher Jo Rotunno pictured in Rome, Italy, to present Be My Disciples to Pope Francis. (PRNewsFoto/RCL Benziger) (PRNewsFoto/RCL Benziger)

"We are truly humbled and blessed by the opportunity to meet His Holiness, Pope Francis," said Mr. Esposito. "Pope Francis continues to inspire us to live the call to discipleship, and it is with great pleasure and honor that we publish resources to support the call to 'Go and make disciples.'"

In 1853, the first Benziger printing house was opened in New York City to sell religious books in Polish, German, and English. Reaching out to rural American Catholic families, the Benziger sales wagon brought Bibles and prayer books to communities up and down the Ohio River. The Holy See conferred on the firm the title "Printers to the Holy Apostolic See" in 1867, and "The Pontifical Institute of Christian Art" in 1888.

The Be My Disciples program, which empowers young people and their families to answer the call to discipleship, has gone through the conformity process and is fully available for schools and parishes, grades 1-8. The bilingual Spanish version of the program, Sean mis Discipulos, includes a special faith and culture feature for every unit that explores popular devotions from Latin America.

Pope Francis' focus of Christian discipleship has been reaffirmed throughout his Pontificate and in numerous homilies. With RCL Benziger's nationally and internationally distributed resources and Catholic heritage, the publisher will continue to be one of its most active participants. Visit RCL Benziger at www.RCLBenziger.com for more information about its programs, resources, and services.

Founded in 1792, RCL Benziger is one the oldest publishers of Catholic educational materials and faith formation resources in the United States. Known for its multimedia product offerings, including digital and bilingual resources, RCL Benziger is a major provider of religious education programs for Catholic schools and parishes.

The RCL Benziger family of products supports catechists, educators, students, families, and individuals, with resources for Sacrament preparation, family life, catechist formation, and adult faith formation.

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