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The British monarch is accorded the title “Royal Confrater” at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, taking a seat on a stall bearing the Gospel inscription, \u201cThat they may be one\u201d. This wish is echoed by Cardinal Harvey, who, together with Abbot Ogliari, accompanies the Royals through the Holy Door before the ecumenical celebration. <\/p>\n
By Lorena Leonardi and Edoardo Giribaldi<\/b><\/p>\n
Ut unum sint<\/i> \u2013 \u201cThat they may they one.\u201d A horizon of \u201chope\u201d for the future characterized the atmosphere in the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, during the ceremony\u00a0conferring the title of\u00a0Royal Confrater<\/i>\u00a0on King Charles III of England took place at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, during his state visit to the Vatican alongside Queen Camilla. The ecumenical celebration was presided over by Abbot Donato Ogliari, in the presence of Cardinal Archpriest of the Papal Basilica James Michael Harvey; the Archbishop of York and Primate of England, Stephen Cottrell; and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rosie Frew.<\/p>\nThe ecumenical celebration<\/h2>\n
The Royals entered the basilica through the Holy Door, then were accompanied down the aisle by Cardinal Harvey, Abbot Ogliari, Archbishop Cottrell, and Moderator Frew while the congregation sang Hosanna to the Son of David<\/i> in the version of Orlando Gibbons, Gentleman of the Chapel Royal from 1605 to 1625. The music was performed by the Schola<\/i> of the Abbey of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, the lay clerks of St. George\u2019s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and the children of St. James\u2019s Royal Chapel in London; at the organ was Christian Almada, Titular Organist of the Papal Basilica.<\/p>\n
After a brief stop in front of the altar, Cardinal Harvey and Abbot Ogliari led the monarchs in a moment of prayer at the tomb of the Apostle Paul. Here, Archbishop Cottrell prayed that the congregation may bear witness to the Gospel \u201cin the darkness of our time.\u201d King Charles and Queen Camilla then took their seats as the choir sang Sing Joyfully<\/i> by William Byrd, also a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.<\/p>\nThe ties between the Basilica and England<\/h2>\n
After the introductory rites, Cardinal Harvey took the floor, recalling the strong historical ties that unite the Papal Basilica with the kingdom of England. This dialogue reached a decisive stage in the 1966 meeting between Paul VI and the Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey, which led to official dialogue between the two communions \u201cfor the first time since the Reformation.\u201d On that occasion, the Pontiff memorably placed his episcopal ring on the archbishop’s finger.<\/p>\n
The honorary title of\u00a0Royal Confrater<\/i> of the basilica and abbey\u2014offered with the approval of Pope Leo XIV\u2014is therefore a sign of \u201chope\u201d,\u00a0explained the cardinal, and a gesture of welcome not only to a sovereign but to a \u201cbrother.\u201d<\/p>\n