Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 2:13pm

PopeWatch: The Queen

VATICAN-POPE-AUDIENCE

 

PopeWatch’s sainted mother would have loved this.  A Newfie, she was Irish to her core, but she still had a great fondness for Elizabeth II.

In Rome, the Queen will also meet Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, a great admirer. The meeting with the Pope will be in striking contrast to the pageantry of 1980 when she became the first British monarch to make a state visit to the Vatican.

There was also strict formality in 2000 when the Queen went to the Vatican on a state visit to Italy.

This time, the atmosphere will certainly be very different from the security clampdown and media  circus expected a few weeks earlier when Pope Francis entertains  US President Barack Obama.

The Queen’s visit will underline her  position as the most Catholic-friendly Supreme Governor of the Church of England of modern times.

In 1982, she became the first sovereign to welcome a Pope when John Paul II came to London. She also gave Pope Benedict XVI a full state welcome when he arrived in Edinburgh in 2010.

Only nine months ago, she signed  legislation repealing the 300-year rule excluding royals who married  Catholics from the succession.

Go here to read the rest.  Prince Charles has spoken out recently against Muslim violence against Christians in the Middle East so this visit by the Queen to the Vatican may have more than just symbolic meaning to it.

Whenever I mention Queen Elizabeth it brings to my mind her reaction to 9-11, when, breaking with royal protocol,  she ordered the playing of The Star Spangled Banner at Buckingham Palace on September 12, 2001:

 

 

 

 

 

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Jay Anderson
Wednesday, February 5, AD 2014 8:48am

“Whenever I mention Queen Elizabeth it brings to my mind her reaction to 9-11, when, breaking with royal protocol, she ordered the playing of The Star Spangled Banner at Buckingham Palace on September 12, 2001…”

A song about an American victory over the British played by a British military band in front of Buckingham Palace at the order of a British monarch. Such is the “Special Relationship”.

Sarah and I honeymooned in Scotland for two weeks in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 (we were married 15 September 2011), and the kindness and sympathy of the various people who hosted us throughout our two weeks will forever be etched in my heart. Tony Blair’s words of support and pledge to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the U.S. rang out loud and clear to us when we’d hear news broadcasts during our visit. Political differences aside, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Blair.

David Spaulding
David Spaulding
Wednesday, February 5, AD 2014 9:16am

I know this is a serious post but I couldn’t help but think of this scene from So I Married an Axe Murderer:

Jay Anderson
Wednesday, February 5, AD 2014 10:38am

😉

Yeah, what’s the big deal? It’s not like they don’t already “meet tri-annually at a secret country mansion in Colorado known as ‘The Meadows’.”

WK Aiken
WK Aiken
Wednesday, February 5, AD 2014 10:51am

He’ll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow.

c matt
c matt
Wednesday, February 5, AD 2014 1:05pm

Aren’t the Star Spangeld Banner and God Save the Queen basically the same tune?

slainte
slainte
Thursday, February 6, AD 2014 12:01am

Another variation of the Red, White, and Blue.
.
http://youtu.be/tN9EC3Gy6Nk

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Thursday, February 6, AD 2014 7:55am

QEII and her grandsons (Lady Di’s sons) seem okay. Harry did one or two tours in Afghanistan. (Seems the lifespans of 2Lt’s have lengthened.) Lord (he merited the title) Mountbatten was the best. The rest, e.g., Charles, not so much.

Ez
Ez
Friday, February 7, AD 2014 5:45am

Yes Charles and Phillip aren’t my favourite Royals.

I have admiration for William- having lost his mother at a young age and raised around scandal and innuendo, would have been difficult.

I think his marriage and beautiful son, are the best things that could have happened to the Royal family. Family is always the best part of society- children particularly.

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