Edward VII challenged the government with his trip across the Tiber, Elizabeth II came to visit in 1961. Charles and the ecumenism that passes through the figure of Saint John Henry Newman
FROM OUR REPORTER
ROME – To break the diplomatic frost in relations between London and the Vatican in the strong-willedpleasure-loving and politically courageous, King Edward VII. It was 1903 and King Edward, son of Queen Empress Victoria, met the Holy Father in Rome.
A visit and a meeting strongly desired by Queen Victoria’s son as much as it was discouraged by the British government of the time. But once again the stubborn King Edward prevailed and during his journey in Europe from Italy to France, in spring of 1903 he managed to meet Pope Leo XIII with whom he spoke for a long time and from whom he received praise for the ecumenical openness demonstrated by London in its relations with the populations of its largest empire on the borders of the Commonwealth.
An openness that was also reflected by the king’s circle of friends, the friends of what became known as the «magic circle of Marlborough House» from the house overlooking Pall Mall inhabited by the heir to the throne, which counted for example the Rothschild Jews as Catholic noblewomen. The son of Queen Victoria, who had been kept away from government issues by his august mother until the end, would later make dynamism in foreign policy the distinctive feature of his reign.
Another step will be the visit of 1949 by Elizabeth II’s sister; Princess Margaret who met Pius XII in the Vatican, which will prepare the visit of the still Princess Elizabeth in 1951. Elizabeth will return from regina in the Vatican in 1961 during the state visit to Italyand will meet the new Pope John XXIII.
The first state visit of the sovereigns in The Vatican will only be in 1980 when John Paul II will be on Peter’s seat who will also be the first pontiff to travel across the Channel for a historic pastoral visit in 1982 which will lead to stable diplomatic relations.
During Elizabeth’s reign, not only did the sovereign with her husband Philip return to visit first from Pope John Paul II in 2000 and then in 2014 by Pope Francis, but many Windsor representatives have been to the Vatican.
Starting from Charles at the time was the only Prince of Wales who arrived for the canonization of Cardinal John Henry Newman in 2019 until the last meeting last April with Pope Francis. But the Princes of Kent and the Dukes of Gloucester up to the Duchess of Kent, who converted to Catholicism in 1994, also met the Holy Father in the Vatican.
Diplomatic relations between London and the Holy See resumed only in 1914 but there was no ambassador until 1982. It was Elizabeth II, the first to be welcomed on a state visit to the Holy See in 1980, when John Paul II was on the seat of Peter, who will also be the first pontiff to travel across the Channel, to Buckingham Palace, for a historic pastoral visit in 1982 during which Charles, then Prince of Wales, met the Pope Wojtyła and Canterbury.
During Elizabeth’s reign, not only the sovereign with her husband Philip she had returned to visit first by Pope John Paul II for the Jubilee of 2000 and then in 2014 by Pope Francis for the 100th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations, but many Windsor representatives have been in the Vatican.
Charles had already arrived in Rome at the time only Prince of Wales, for the canonization of Cardinal John Henry Newman in 2019. The last meeting last April with Pope Francis.
The princes of Kent and the Princes also met the Holy Father in the Vatican Dukes of Gloucester to the Duchess of Kent, who converted to Catholicism in 1994: Pope Leo himself sent King Charles a message of condolence a month ago for the passing of the Catholic Duchess Windsor: «I send heartfelt condolences, together with the assurance of my prayerful closeness, to Your Majesty«. At the Catholic funeral of the Duchess at Westminster Cathedral in London, King Charles met the Catholic Cardinal Vincent Nichols who now accompanies him together with the Archbishop of York on this historic visit.
