UK papal visit background: St. Mary’s University College, Lambeth Palace, Westminster Abbey

CWN - September 14, 2010

Following his meeting with Queen Elizabeth and the outdoor Mass in Glasgow on the initial day of his apostolic journey to Great Britain, Pope Benedict spends September 17 in London and Westminster.

After offering a private Mass at 8:00 in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Wimbledon, the Pontiff will travel to St. Mary’s University College, where he will speak with educational and religious leaders. Founded in 1850 by the Catholic Poor Schools Committee at the behest of Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman, the college later moved to its present location at the 18th-century estate of Horace Walpole.

At 4:00 in the afternoon, Pope Benedict will meet with Archbishop Rowan Williams at Lambeth Palace, the residence of the archbishops of Canterbury since the 13th century. There were 70 Catholic archbishops of Canterbury between St. Augustine of Canterbury (597) and Cardinal Reginald Pole (1558); Archbishop Williams is the 34th Anglican to hold the office.

At 5:10, the Pontiff will travel to Westminster Hall to address political, cultural, and religious leaders. Built by King William II in 1097, Westminster Hall was the seat of authority of the medieval kings of England. Saints Thomas More and Edmund Campion were tried and condemned to death in the hall in the 16th century.

Pope Benedict will conclude his public events of September 17 with a 6:15 ecumenical evening prayer service at Westminster Abbey, the traditional coronation site of English monarchs and a Benedictine abbey from its foundation in 960 until the Reformation. Pope Benedict and Archbishop Williams will jointly venerate the relics of St. Edward the Confessor (1003-66) and impart a blessing at the high altar.

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Show 2 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments
  • Posted by: umpynelson3459 - Sep. 14, 2010 7:08 PM ET USA

    To Extreme Catholic. Good luck with that...

  • Posted by: extremeCatholic - Sep. 14, 2010 11:06 AM ET USA

    I'm waiting for the moment when the Holy Father presents the Queen with an inventory of the all the confiscated properties of the Catholic Church from the 16th and 17th centuries with the request that it be restored.

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