(Vatican Radio) Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are here in Rome visiting
the three seminaries preparing men for priesthood in the United Kingdom and beyond.
In particular they are bringing a message from Queen Elizabeth II marking the 650th
anniversary of the Venerable English College, founded in 1362 as a ‘Hospice of the
English’ in Rome. As a cousin of the Queen, the Duke’s presence at the College for
its Martyrs’ Day celebration on Saturday marks an important symbol of the increasingly
warm relationship between Britain and the Holy See, following on from the papal visit
to the UK in 2010.
Accompanying the royal couple on their two day tour in
the Eternal City is Britain’s ambassador to the Holy See, Nigel Baker, who told Vatican
Radio’s Philippa Hitchen more about the reasons for their visit……
Listen:
“They arrived
on St Andrews Day so….their first activity (is) to visit the Pontifical Scots College
to celebrate St Andrews Day with the staff, visitors and students… there the Duke
will be unveiling a restored coat of arms of Henry Benedict Cardinal York…
The
centrepiece of the visit will be (their) attendance at the Feast of the English Martyrs
at the Venerable English College….and it’s important to emphasise the royal and papal
link through the college…..
The fact that we have a cousin of the Queen coming
to the College…..is really a demonstration of how, while recognising and respecting
history, we have moved on beyond there and that the relationship between the UK and
the Holy See and the role of the Catholic Church in Britain are really very strong”