Pope prays for Queen on her Jubilee

The Holy Father has sent a message to Britian’s Queen Elizabeth II for her Diamond Jubilee.

"I write to offer my warmest congratulations to Your Majesty on the happy occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of your reign.  During the past sixty years you have offered to your subjects and to the whole world an inspiring example of dedication to duty and a commitment to maintaining the principles of freedom, justice and democracy, in keeping with a noble vision of the role of a Christian monarch,” stated the Pope in his message.

He went on to recall his warm memories of the gracious welcome accorded to him by the Queen at Holyrood House in Edinburgh at the beginning of his apostolic visit to the Great Britain in September 2010.  He renewed his thanks for the hospitality he received throughout those four days.

“Your personal commitment to cooperation and mutual respect between the followers of different religious traditions has contributed in no small measure to improving ecumenical and inter-religious relations throughout your realms.  Commending Your Majesty and all the royal family to the protection of Almighty God, I renew my heartfelt good wishes on this joyful occasion and I assure you of my prayers for your continuing health and prosperity,” he concluded.

On Tuesday (June 5) the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, celebrated 5:00pm Mass in Westminster Cathedral for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

In his homily, he spoke of how he was a primary school student at the time of the coronation and it was the first thing that he ever saw on television.  The Archbishop pointed to the Queen’s stillness and serenity during decades of domestic, social, educational, international, economic and political change.

"There has been something about Her Majesty that has not changed at all.  She has retained an inner quality, yet one that is clearly visible, throughout all these vicissitudes: a quality of stillness, of calm, of serenity."

He went on to highlight the Queen’s Christian commitment and service:
"Much has been said, and quite rightly so, about our Queen’s remarkable record of service to our nation, to the Commonwealth and to the entire community of nations.  I am sure that it is her Christian faith that lies at the heart of this commitment to service."

Archbishop Nichols also gave thanks for the wonderful welcome that the Queen gave to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 and recalled the Queen's, "gracious words of appreciation of the special contribution made to society by the Catholic Church, spoken in the presence of Pope Benedict at the Palace of Holyrood House."

by Ann Marie Foley