World September 08, 2022
‘Our Queen was a light to the nations’: Abp. Miller; Pope pays tribute to life of unstinting service
By Zelda Caldwell
Queen Elizabeth II, Canada’s head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in British history, and the oldest and longest-serving head of state in the world, died at the age of 96 Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after a brief illness.
Archbishop J. Michael Miller was at St. Patrick’s Elementary celebrating Mass for the school’s centennial when he learned of the sad news.
He told The B.C. Catholic afterwards, “The faithful of the Archdiocese of Vancouver join all those who mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. As sovereign she carried out her role with dignity, humility and an unmatched dedication to the responsibilities that God placed upon her. She was a bedrock of stability in our restless world. As a woman of unwavering Christian faith, our Queen was a light to the nations. May God’s perpetual light shine upon her.”
Pope Francis in a telegram late Thursday offered his condolences and prayers.
“Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I offer heartfelt condolences to Your Majesty, the Members of the Royal Family, the People of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth,” the Pope wrote in the Sept. 8 telegram to Britain’s new monarch, King Charles III.
“I willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late Queen’s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises.”
Pope Francis concluded his telegram to the new King by praying for the Queen’s soul.
“Commending her noble soul to the merciful goodness of our Heavenly Father, I assure Your Majesty of my prayers that Almighty God will sustain you with his unfailing grace as you now take up your high responsibilities as King. Upon you and all who cherish the memory of your late mother, I invoke an abundance of divine blessings as a pledge of comfort and strength in the Lord,” the Pontiff wrote.
Canada’s bishops said it was “with profound sadness” that they learned of the Queen’s passing.
In a statement, Bishop Poisson, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he joined with his brother bishops and Canada’s faithful in praying for the repose of the Queen’s soul and in extending sincerest condolences to the members of the Royal Family.
“Generations of Canadians have lived under Queen Elizabeth’s long reign,” said Bishop Poisson. “She will be forever remembered for her remarkable service to the people of our country and the entire Commonwealth. We grieve her loss, with all her subjects, and recall in a special way the Church of England, of which she was Supreme Governor.”
The bishop noted the inspiring life of the Queen. “From the onset of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II vowed to dedicate her life to the service of others. She fulfilled this promise without stint or reservation.”
The full statement is at the bottom of this story.
The Catholic Civil Rights League released a statement noting the Queen’s public witness of her faith.
“Queen Elizabeth II reigned with dignity for over 70 years. She was the Head of the Church of England, and she lived her life as a faithful Christian glorifying God first, ahead of her own earthly kingdom. May other leaders and Heads of State learn from her example.”
Noting the Queen’s death of the feast of the Nativity of Mary, the league said, “As Catholics, we are called to be citizens of two worlds, such that while we acknowledge Mary, Queen of the Universe as our mother, we are also called to respectfully participate in civic life which includes respect for our country and its history.
“It may be helpful to be reminded of our Sovereign’s public witness, as a defender of Christianity, of the importance she placed on her Christian faith during many public statements and messages.”
In June, Pope Francis sent a congratulatory message to the Queen as the U.K marked the 70th anniversary of her reign, presiding over Britain, the Commonwealth, including Canada, for seven decades.
As Queen, Elizabeth served as de facto head of the Anglican Church. Her title “Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England” dates to the reign of King Henry VIII. As such, she appointed archbishops, bishops, and deans of the Church of England and presided over the opening of their General Synods.
She was a vocal proponent of the practice of religion, whether it was Anglican or not. She used her Christmas Day message to call for interfaith harmony. On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee marking the 60th year of her reign in 2012, she and the duke of Edinburgh attended a multi-faith reception at Lambeth Palace hosted by the archbishop of Canterbury.
“Faith plays a key role in the identity of millions of people, providing not only a system of belief but also a sense of belonging. It can act as a spur for social action,” the Queen said at the time.
“Indeed, religious groups have a proud track record of helping those in the greatest need, including the sick, the elderly, the lonely, and the disadvantaged. They remind us of the responsibilities we have beyond ourselves,” she said.
In matters of personal faith, the Queen was said to have been deeply religious. The Washington Post reported that, according to Oxford University theology professor Stan Rosenberg, the Queen had “a deep vibrancy of faith,” and “read Scripture daily, attended church weekly, and regularly prayed.”
In 2010, she welcomed then Pope Benedict XVI to the U.K., the first state visit of a pope to the country. St. John Paul II had visited the U.K. and met with the Queen in 1982, but his was a pastoral rather than a state visit.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, born on April 21, 1926, was the elder daughter of Prince Albert, duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. There was little expectation that she would ever become Queen, and she and her younger sister, Margaret, who died in 2002, are said to have lived a carefree, practically “normal” life.
That all changed on Dec. 11, 1936, when her father’s older brother, Edward VII, abdicated the throne to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson. Her father became King George VI, and at 10 years old, Elizabeth became the heir presumptive.
At age 27, Elizabeth ascended to the throne after her father’s death on Feb. 6, 1952. In the course of her 70-year-reign, she served with 15 prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to the newly instated Prime Minister Liz Truss. Following a centuries-old tradition, Elizabeth officially asked Truss to form a new government on Sept. 6, although the ceremony was held at Balmoral Castle rather than Buckingham Palace due to the Queen’s recent mobility issues.
Her extraordinarily long reign, which one observer noted covered 30% of U.S. history, was astonishing in that she remained physically and mentally engaged until her last days. As Head of State of Britain’s constitutional monarchy, she represented Britain and served as a stabilizing and unifying leader and advocate for members of the Commonwealth. Since she became Queen, she made her role as Head of the Commonwealth a priority and saw the number of nations in the Commonwealth grow from eight to 54 today. During her reign, she also met five different Popes.
Beyond her ceremonial functions, she was known for keeping well-informed of issues facing her nation. An avid horsewoman, she reportedly had to stop her beloved pastime last fall. As recently as this June, she was back in the saddle and was seen riding her pony at Windsor Castle.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Prince Philip, duke of Edinburgh, who died on April 9, 2021. She had four children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. The eldest son, Charles, prince of Wales, will now become King and his wife, Camilla, duchess of Cornwall, will become Queen Consort.
The Queen’s four children — Charles; Anne, princess royal; Andrew, duke of York, and Edward, earl of Essex — were at the Queen’s bedside before she died.
A Christian leader
As Queen, Elizabeth served as de facto head of the Anglican Church. Her title “Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England,” dates to the reign of King Henry VIII. As such, she appointed archbishops, bishops, and deans of the Church of England and presided over the opening of their General Synods.
She was a vocal proponent of the practice of religion, whether it was Anglican or not. She used her Christmas Day message to call for interfaith harmony. On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee marking the 60th year of her reign in 2012, she and the duke of Edinburgh attended a multi-faith reception at Lambeth Palace hosted by the archbishop of Canterbury.
“Faith plays a key role in the identity of millions of people, providing not only a system of belief but also a sense of belonging. It can act as a spur for social action,” the Queen said.
“Indeed, religious groups have a proud track record of helping those in the greatest need, including the sick, the elderly, the lonely, and the disadvantaged. They remind us of the responsibilities we have beyond ourselves,” she said.
In matters of personal faith, the Queen was said to have been deeply religious. The Washington Post reported that, according to Oxford University theology professor Stan Rosenberg, the Queen had “a deep vibrancy of faith,” and “read Scripture daily, attended church weekly, and regularly prayed.”
Her Christmas radio messages were sometimes deeply personal and revealed a life of prayer and faith.
“I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good times and the bad,” she said in 2002. “Each day is a new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God. … I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian Gospel.”
With files from B.C. Catholic and Jonah McKeown, CNA
CCCB Statement
Statement by Bishop Raymond Poisson, Bishop of St-Jérôme-Mont-Laurier and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) receives the news of the passing of Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, with profound sadness. I join my brother Bishops and all of the Catholic faithful of this country in praying for the repose of her soul and in extending sincerest condolences to the members of the Royal Family.
Generations of Canadians have lived under Queen Elizabeth’s long reign. She will be forever remembered for her remarkable service to the people of our country and the entire Commonwealth. We grieve her loss, with all her subjects, and recall in a special way the Church of England, of which she was Supreme Governor.
There is immense inspiration to be found in the life the Queen lived. From the onset of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II vowed to dedicate her life to the service of others. She fulfilled this promise without stint or reservation.
Born on 21 April 1926, Queen Elizabeth II entered this world amid one of the most turbulent periods in history. Having grown up amid the chaos and destruction of the Second World War, as Queen, she guided her subjects in its aftermath and beyond, providing stability and hope.
She visited Canada 22 times. On each occasion, Canadians found in her an example of service, patriotism, respect for humanity, and devotion to God. In 1971, when delivering a speech in Toronto, she remarked: “I want the Crown to be seen as a symbol of national sovereignty belonging to all. It is not only a link between Commonwealth nations, but between Canadian citizens of every national origin and ancestry.”
Queen Elizabeth resonated with Canadians from all walks of life. On this day of great sadness, we do well to reflect on all that is to be learned from the life of Queen Elizabeth II and we pray: Grant her eternal rest, O Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon her.
8 September 2022
A look back at Queen Elizabeth II’s encounters with five Popes
By Courtney Mares, CNA
Queen Elizabeth, who turned 96 in April, was 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.
Queen Elizabeth II with Pope Francis during their first meeting on April 3, 2014. (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.”
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.
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.