A look back at Queen Elizabeth II’s encounters with five popes

Courtney Mares   By Courtney Mares for CNA

September 8, 2022 Catholic News Agency News Briefs 1 Print

 

Queen Elizabeth greets Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2014. / Vatican Media

Rome Newsroom, Sep 8, 2022 / 10:12 am (CNA).

With the Royal Family gathering in Balmoral Castle Thursday amid concerns for Queen Elizabeth II’s health, Catholic bishops in England and Wales have offered their prayers for her and her family.

Queen Elizabeth, who turned 96 in April, is England’s longest-serving monarch, having acceded to the throne in 1952 at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. In June, the United Kingdom celebrated Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years as monarch.

Here is a look back at the five popes whom she met in her lifetime:

Pope Francis in 2014

When Queen Elizabeth II met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in April 2014, she gave the pope a food hamper filled with local delicacies and a bottle of Balmoral whiskey. The meeting marked the 100th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Pope Francis during their first meeting on April 3, 2014, at the Vatican. Photo credit should read STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Pope Francis during their first meeting on April 3, 2014, at the Vatican. Photo credit should read STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Benedict XVI in 2010

Pope Benedict XVI’s first meeting during his four-day visit to the United Kingdom in September 2010 was with Queen Elizabeth II in Edinburgh, Scotland. Benedict said it was a “very cordial meeting, characterized by the sharing of several profound concerns for the well-being of the world’s peoples and for the role of the Christian values in society.”

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (left) looks on as Queen Elizabeth II talks with Pope Benedict XVI and exchanges gifts during an audience in the Morning Drawing Room on day 1 of his four-day state visit to the United Kingdom at Holyrood House on Sept. 16, 2010 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by David Cheskin / WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (left) looks on as Queen Elizabeth II talks with Pope Benedict XVI and exchanges gifts during an audience in the Morning Drawing Room on day 1 of his four-day state visit to the United Kingdom at Holyrood House on Sept. 16, 2010 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by David Cheskin / WPA Pool/Getty Images

Pope John Paul II in 1980, 1982, and 2000

Queen Elizabeth II first met Pope John Paul II at the Vatican together with her late husband, Prince Philip, for an official state visit on Oct. 13, 1980.

In a historic trip marking the first time a pope set foot in Britain, Pope John Paul II visited the queen at Buckingham Palace in May 1982. Nearly 20 years later, the queen traveled to the Vatican for a private meeting with the Polish pope on Oct. 17, 2000.

Queen Elizabeth ll exchanges gifts with Pope John Paul ll during her first visit to the Vatican on Oct. 17, 1980. Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth ll exchanges gifts with Pope John Paul ll during her first visit to the Vatican on Oct. 17, 1980. Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Pope John XXIII in 1961

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip had an audience with Pope John XXIII at the Apostolic Palace on May 5, 1961. The pope expressed his “deepest personal esteem” for the queen for bearing “the weight of such vast responsibilities with so much simplicity and dignity.”

Pope Pius XII in 1951

One year before Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne, she met Pope Pius XII as a princess in 1951. You can watch their meeting in the video below.

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Bishop Donald J. Hying appointed to lead Madison diocese

April 25, 2019 CNA Daily News 0

Vatican City, Apr 25, 2019 / 04:04 am (CNA).- Pope Francis Thursday appointed Donald J. Hying the next bishop of Madison, Wis., following the death of Bishop Robert C. Morlino in November.

Hying, 55, has been the bishop of Gary, Ind. since 2014. Before that he was an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisc. for three and a half years.

He replaces Bishop Morlino, who died Nov. 24, 2018 at St. Mary Hospital in Madison after suffering a cardiac event while undergoing scheduled medical tests. He was 71.

Morlino was installed as the fourth bishop of Madison Aug. 1, 2003. Prior to his time in Madison, he was bishop of Helena.

Bishop Hying was born on Aug. 18, 1963 in West Allis, Wis. He is the youngest of six brothers. He was ordained a priest for the Milwaukee archdiocese in May 1989 at the age of 25.

He is fluent in Spanish. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history, philosophy and theology from Marquette University and a master’s of divinity degree from St. Francis de Sales Seminary.

From 2007 to 2011 he was the rector of St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee.

As bishop of Gary, Hying called the diocese’s first synod in 2017, following which he outlined the top pastoral priorities for the diocese over the coming years.

In support of those plans, Hying was making comprehensive visits to each parish in the diocese during 2019.

The Diocese of Madison was established in 1945 and has 104 parishes and 142 diocesan and religious priests.

The diocese has around 285,000 Catholics, which is just over 27% of the area’s total population.

In the statement announcing the death of Morlino in November, the Diocese of Madison outlined his three priorities as bishop. These were to “increase the number and quality of men ordained to the diocesan priesthood,” to increase a sense of reverence throughout the diocese, and “to challenge Catholic institutions in the diocese to live out their professed faith in Jesus Christ” with their ministry in the secular realm.

In August 2018, Morlino released a pastoral letter saying the “homosexual subculture” within the Church was “wreaking great devastation.” He also called for additional Masses of reparation and fasting, and promised to respond firmly to any allegations of sexual misconduct by members of the clergy or seminarians.

 

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1 Comment

  1. Seeing and meeting five Popes in one’s life time is a record of sorts. Long live the memory of Queen Elizabeth’s contribution to humankind.

    Reply

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