Cardinal Rigali issues statement on death of Queen Elizabeth II

Statement of Cardinal Justin Rigali
On the Death of Queen Elizabeth II

"I learned of Queen Elizabeth's death while enroute back to the United States after concelebrating the beatification Mass for Pope John Paul I, and after meeting with Pope Francis. Queen Elizabeth was a remarkable woman and rightly admired for her calmness and wisdom. I ask that we remember the significance of her historic encounters with five different popes, including the first visit ever to England and Buckingham Palace by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, in 1982. The symbolic impact of this moment will long resonate in history. The Queen met with St. John Paul three times—including twice in Rome. I was honored to be present for one of those encounters. There is certainly something truly dignified about the British way of honoring their Queen. Let us continue to offer prayers for Her Majesty, her family and her nation."


[Above: Queen Elizabeth II meets with Pope John Paul II in Rome. The Queen met with five popes during her lifetime, the first being Pope Pius XII in 1951. Image courtesy CNS/Reuters]