Short answers, pulled from the story.
The term almoner originated from the Greek word eleemosyne, meaning pity or mercy, which evolved through popular Latin into the English term almoner. This position first appeared in Acts 6:1 and 4, where deacons distributed charity to needy members of early Christian churches.
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski has held the post of Papal Almoner since late 2013. He serves as the spiritual and logistical bridge between the Pope and the world's most vulnerable populations, and since June 2022, he has headed the Dicastery for the Service of Charity.
King Francis I created the position of Grand Almoner of France, establishing a role that combined spiritual oversight with significant political influence within the French royal household. The office persisted through centuries of French history, adapting to changing political landscapes while maintaining its core function of bridging the gap between the crown and the common people.
The Lord High Almoner organizes the ceremony of the Crown's annual distribution of Maundy money on Maundy Thursday, the day before Easter. This ancient tradition dates back to the Middle Ages and involves the monarch personally distributing small sums of money to elderly recipients.
Lady almoners existed in the UK from 1895 to the termination of the private medical system in 1948. Their task was to determine the patients' ability to contribute towards their own medical care, playing a crucial role in the early development of social work.