The United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth II, who is also the head of the Church of England, will meet with Pope Francis on April 2. As usual with dignitaries, the queen will visit the Vatican during a visit to Italy. It happens that the visit to Italy is a one-day visit for a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano which the queen will use as an opportunity to meet the new pope for the first time.
The Church of England is in disarray over the appointment of openly gay priests and bishops and over women’s ordination. The church is also considering whether to bless same-sex marriages.
The informal visit in the simple boarding house where Francis resides will strengthen ties between the two churches. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has already met with Pope Francis. The pope plans to offer the queen a cup of tea in a small sitting room.
“The Queen’s visit will underline her position as the most Catholic-friendly Supreme Governor of the Church of England of modern times.” In 2013, she signed legislation repealing a 300-year old law excluding royals who marry Catholics from succession.
In June of 2013 the queen signed a law to permit same-sex marriages, but which permits the Church of England to opt out of recognizing the unions.
The queen is a regular visitor of popes. She has visited Pope Pius XII (while still Princess Elizabeth), Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II twice, and Benedict XVI when he visited Scotland.
All the world wondered… Revelation 13:3
Comments