FEATURE
Liberating the Old Rite Andrew Cusack remembers Pope Benedict’s visit to Britain in 2010
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© The Bishops’ Conference
P
roximity to events is an inherent danger in rendering historical judgement, which means it is probably too soon to describe the late Pope Benedict XVI as one of the most important pontiffs for the history of Catholicism in Great Britain since the Reformation. Benedict’s gentleness and erudition stood him in great stead and earned him the love and respect of many Catholics as well as other Christians and non-believers. Most memorable was his 2010 State Visit to the United Kingdom – the first official State Visit of any reigning Pontiff to this realm. The visit began with an historic arrival in Edinburgh, the second city of the union, where he was welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh – both of whom predeceased Benedict. Papal Masses in Glasgow and Westminster preceded a well-attended liturgy in Birmingham during which Pope Benedict beatified John Henry Newman, the scholar and churchman whose influence has guided, swayed, and encouraged many people from around the English-speaking world to come into full communion with the See of Peter. Among the most important roles of the Pontiff is that of teacher and guide. In that capacity, Benedict XVI was given the privilege of addressing a joint sitting of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled on the fifth day of his visit in the medieval great hall of the Palace of Westminster which had witnessed the trial of St Thomas More, sometime Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor of England. Pope Benedict acknowledged the deep and abiding influence that Westminster, in one shape or another, has had on the evolution of participatory democracy which is now held as the common standard of government across most of the planet. In addressing the gathered lawmakers, he reminded
Benedict outside Westminster Cathedral
WINTER 2023
