The Personal Ordinariates established under the provisions of Anglicanorum Coetibus represent, as the late Mgr Mark Langham called them, “realised ecumenism”. As the first English Ordinary appointed after its publication in 2010, I naturally wanted to be present at Pope Benedict’s funeral. Usually in Rome I stay at the Venerable English College, which is the oldest English institution of any kind outside England. On arrival I found there was no heating or hot water, but it was little enough sacrifice compared with those faithful priests who in the 16th century returned to England and martyrdom. The seminarians had not returned from their Christmas break, which was a pity; I am always encouraged by meeting those in formation for the priesthood.
After unpacking, I changed into cassock, zucchetto and pectoral cross, hoping that they would help me get into St Peter’s Basilica for the lying-in-state. It is amazing what a pectoral cross can do. Not only did the Swiss Guards salute, but I was directed to the side door of the basilica and ushered to a seat near Pope Benedict’s body. It looked tiny under those simple red vestments.
I prayed and said the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. As I sat there in this great church before the man who had once been the chief pastor of the Catholic Church I was reminded of the “cadaver tomb” of the 15th-century Archbishop Henry Chichele, in Canterbury Cathedral.
Made in his lifetime, it shows Chichele dressed in the gorgeous vestments of a medieval bishop, but underneath (in a sort of bunk-bed arrangement) is the archbishop in death, his body rotting. It was, of course, intended as a reminder of mortality and of how transient earthly glory is. A ceremony making the same point used to take place at the coronation of the pope when such occasions were rather more exotic than they are today. As the pope was carried around St Peter’s on the sedia gestatoria and wearing the triple tiara, a simply-dressed Franciscan friar would stop the procession on three occasions and burn a piece of flax before the new pontiff while chanting “sic transit gloria mundi” – “Thus passes the glory of the world.”
The clergy staying at the Venerabile offered Mass for Pope Benedict that evening. In place of the homily Cardinal Nichols suggested we said a few words about what he had meant to us. I recalled that I had the great privilege of meeting him in 2011, shortly after my ordination to the Catholic priesthood. I was deeply impressed by the humility of a man who was one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century. Pope Benedict literally changed the direction of my life. Because of Anglicanorum Coetibus I resigned my appointment as an Anglican bishop, was received into the full communion of the Catholic Church and was appointed the first Ordinary of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. The Church sometimes drives me mad, but I have never regretted that decision.
The next morning we had to be in our places by 8.30am. The bishops, or those like me equivalent in law, vested in the long passageway of the Braccio di Costantino. It is amazing how many people one meets on such occasions and I was delighted to bump into Archbishop Antonio Mennini, who became papal nuncio to the Court of St James soon after my ordination. He was a great friend to the Ordinariate during his tenure and celebrated our Chrism Mass on five occasions. The actual funeral Mass was quite simple and – except for the numbers present and the magnificent setting of St Peter’s Square – it was the same as any other Catholic might expect.
Back at the English College I sat down for a cup of coffee with the Rector, Fr Stephen Wang. He has a special place in the hearts of the first priests of the Ordinariate as he arranged our formation programme and gently helped us understand more deeply priesthood in the Catholic Church. Fortunately, a number of young adults from Our Lady of the Assumption, Warwick Street – our central church – had also travelled to Rome for the funeral so I was able to join them for a convivial lunch and supper. It is amazing what an influence Pope Benedict had on their lives – not least because of his remarkable visit to the UK in 2010.
Then, suddenly, it was Epiphany. After morning Mass I spent a few hours strolling about Rome’s centro storico before heading to the airport. I dropped into a few churches where Mass was being said for just four or five people, but ended up at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini just along from the Palazzo Spada. It was packed, with standing room only, and most of the congregation seemed to be under 40; Mass in the Extraordinary Form was being celebrated by Cardinal Burke.
The beauty of holiness – which attracts many to the old rite – was very close to the heart of Pope Benedict XVI, and we all need to promote it.
Mgr Keith Newton is the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, and a Protonotary Apostolic to His Holiness
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