An Original Gift from Pilsner Urquell Is on its Way to the Vatican

This afternoon, Pilsen Bishop František Radkovský, together with marketing manager Václav Berka, ceremonially sent off the special shipment of Pilsner Urquell with a certificate of authenticity from the premises of the brewery. The certificate certifies that the Easter batch was blessed by Pilsen Bishop František Radkovský in the brewing house of the Pilsen brewery on February 11, 2013. This year, the Vatican attaché in Czech Republic Giuseppe was present at the blessing ceremony as well.

As a present from Pilsen brewery and the citizens of Pilsen, the beer will enhance the celebrations and the official events of this Easter in The Vatican, which is under the watchful eye of the whole world, especially after the recent election of the new Pope. „Pilsner Urquell is a part of many world events and it is not absent during the Easter celebrations in the heart of Rome where people from all around the world come, and where our Pilsen lager found its way 110 years ago already,“ senior marketing brew master of Plzeňský Prazdroj Václav Berka mentioned.

This year’s batch sent to Rome once again bears the mark of originality. Together with the beer, a personal beer chalice for the newly elected Pope Francis is on its way to Rome. The glass, shaped as an egg, is traditionally made using blown glass techniques and decorated with subtly cut Easter motifs, a product of the successful Czech designer Rony Plesl and handy glass makers from Desna and Kamenicky Šenov. „I am very happy to welcome Francis to his new important post in the name of all Czech people with this humble but original gift. I am sure that he will remember it on his future visits to the Czech Republic, maybe during the celebrations of Konstantin and Methodius, which are celebrated by all of Europe,“ Pilsen Bishop František Radkovský said.

More pictures at:
https://www.prazdroj.cz/cz/media/fotobanka/udalosti-v-prazdroji/originalni-dar-pilsner-urquell-miri-do-vatikanu

For more information contact:
Vladimír Jurina
Plzeňský Prazdroj
tel.: +420 724 617 886

Notes for editors:

• With its total sale of nearly 9.9 million hectolitres during the calendar year of 2012 (including licenced productions abroad) and with its export to more than 50 countries worldwide, Plzeňský Prazdroj Inc. is the preeminent beer producer in the region and the biggest exporter of the Czech beer.
• Plzeňský Prazdroj Inc. is a member of SABMiller plc. group. Pilsner Urquell is the international flagship brand of the SABMiller brand portfolio.
• SABMiller plc. is one of the world’s biggest beer brewing companies with beer brewing activities or distribution in more than 60 countries across six continents. SABMiller portfolio includes important international Brands such as Grolsch, Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, and Pilsner Urquell, as well as almost 200 successful regional and national brands.

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