It is quite interesting to note that Queen Elizabeth II has chosen the Vatican as the destination of her "first overseas trip in three years," as described by the Daily Mail. Is this a testament to Pope Francis' global and singular appeal? Did she venture beyond her home country's borders just to meet the Pontiff in person?
Thursday found "two of the world's best-known public figures" finally shaking each others' hands in Rome. "The Queen, accompanied by husband Prince Philip, is paying a one-day visit to Italy at the invitation of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano," CNN reported. "She and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a lunch hosted by Napolitano, whose role as head of state is largely symbolic, at the presidential palace before heading to Vatican City."
It is not unusual for the 87-year-old monarch to meet with the head of the Roman Catholic Church. She has, in fact, met some of Pope Francis' predecessors in the past. "Her first papal encounter was with Pope Pius in 1951, the year before she ascended the throne," CNN noted.
"If you look back in terms of Queen Elizabeth's reign, it is extraordinary how far the relationship between Britain and the Holy See, and between the Anglican Church and the Catholic Church, has developed since 1952 when she became queen," said Nigel Baker, Britain's ambassador to the Holy See. This trip was reportedly planned last year but was postponed due to health issues.
The Queen was not without gifts for the Pope, though. For a Pontiff who famously shuns luxury and pomposity, she gave him a hamper filled with a dozen eggs, honey from the Queen's own garden, a bottle of Balmoral whisky, apple juice, strawberry jam, and Coronation Best Bitter, according to The Guardian. All these were products from the royal estates. Apparently, Pope Francis was pleased.
"In return, he presented the Queen with a copy of a papal decree from 1679 making Edward the Confessor a saint of the universal Catholic church, and Prince Philip with three pontifical medals in bronze, silver and gold. ('It's the only gold medal I've ever won,' dead-panned the Duke.) Prince George was given a gift for his great-grandparents to take home to him: an orb in lapis lazuli with the cross of St Edward above it," the British publication added.
The two conferred privately for about 17 minutes, before they exchanged gifts. There were no official statements on what the Holy Father and the Queen talked about.
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