Afternoon tea in honour of
the Queen showcases Church's Covid-19 response
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| Queen Elizabeth meets Pope Francis in 014 |
British Embassy to the Holy See hosts afternoon tea in
honour of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday by recognizing Church’s contribution in
tackling Covid-19.
By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
Sally Axworthy, British Ambassador to the Holy See, held a
virtual tea party on Tuesday afternoon to honour Queen Elizabeth on her 94th birthday,
celebrated on 13 June. Roughly 120 people participated from different parts of
the world, including other fellow Ambassadors to the Holy See. The event was
transmitted from the headquarters of the International Union of Superiors
General (UISG) in Rome.
Interdependence
After introductions by the Ambassador, Lord Ahmad of
Wimbledon, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office greeted the
participants via a pre-recorded video message. He underlined the role the
Catholic Church plays throughout the world, especially in developing countries.
While some members of the Church have lost their lives serving on the front
lines, he said many more lives have been saved due to their dedication. Lord
Ahmad described the UK government as a “partner” with the Catholic Church on a
number of issues, human trafficking, modern slavery, freedom of religion and
preventing sexual violence in conflict among them. Covid-19 has taught us that
all people are interdependent, regardless of religious persuasion, he said.
Witnessing God’s love through service
Speaking on behalf of women religious, UISG President, Sr
Jolanta Kafka spoke of the “holy ‘disquietude’ shaking us. But we are sure of
the presence of God’s spirit always moving us toward transformation”. It began
with a day of prayer and solidarity on 22 March. “The need of prayer brings us
to humility to raise our voices and realize that not everything depends on us”,
Sr Jolanta said. The UISG, she said, has been focusing efforts on mutual
support and helping member communities to reflect “on what is happening and how
to move forward”. She summarized how the UISG has been reaching out to its
member communities with the “creativity of compassion” so as to respond to so
many needs “with the possibilities we have”. This circumstance, like so many
others, will bring new fruitfulness, Sr Jolanta said. The invitation is “to
deepen the essence of our vocation” which is witnessing God’s love to humanity
through service.
Recognising the gravity of the situation
Sr Jolanta was followed by her male counterpart, Jesuit
Superior General, Father Arturo Sosa. He noted both visible and invisible ways
that religious are contributing to alleviate the Covid-19 crisis. One of the
invisible ways is that of “recognising and taking up the gravity of the
situation”, he said. Visible ways contribute to the “struggle to change world
structures perpetuating cycles of injustice”. “We feel most to go to those who
are cast aside”. These are the reasons why “religious life is necessary to the
future of humanity”, Father Sosa stated.
Britain’s contributions
In her own speech, Ambassador Axworthy mentioned the ways
that the British Government is playing an active role in combatting the
Covid-19 virus. She mentioned Britain’s role in the hosting the Global Vaccine
Summit in June to which the UK is the highest contributor. Clinical trials of a
vaccine, she said, have begun and “When a vaccine comes, it should be available
to everyone”, she said. Coupled with vaccine development is Britain’s
commitment to developing countries in the form of aid.
Light and life amidst darkness and death
Then the Ambassador directed her words to what the Church is
doing in “ways the UK cannot match”. Among them was Pope Francis who “gave us
hope in the darkness of the first days when it struck”; his special Urbi
et orbi prayer in March in which he reminded us that “we are all in
the same boat”; his daily Masses, in which he mentioned and interceded for “the
many unsung heroes”. “We were privileged to join him daily for his reflections
during this time”, she said. As the world’s “largest non-state provider
fighting the disease”, Axworthy mentioned the St Egidio community and Pope
Francis’s Jesus the Divine Worker fund benefiting Rome’s unemployed population.
She “looks forward to the guidance of Pope Francis” through the Covid-19
Commission he established, so as not to return to ways of the past, but so that
Britain too might contribute to making the world better. “Today we want to say
thank you for the church and people of faith for tackling Covid-19”, she said.
Lastly, she explained that UK sponsored donations have benefited 5 Catholic
charitable organizations. The money that would have been spent on a live
tea party, she said, is going toward a food donation to people in Northern
Italy. Lastly, she quoted Queen Elizabeth’s Easter Message: “As dark as death
can be, life and light are better”. “Thanks to everyone for sharing light and
life”, Axworthy concluded.
Common vocation to service
Lastly, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s
Secretary for Relations with States addressed the participants. He said that
Queen Elizabeth herself has been a source of “encouragement and inspiration”
and that the UK has been “blessed by her example of service”. “In present
crisis, she has offered words of resolve and comfort. Her empathy with the
sufferings of so many is and always has been heartfelt”, the Archbishop said.
Turning to the world at large, the Archbishop said “the
whole world has been shaken from what it takes for granted. Reflection shows
that there is need of conversion. False securities are falling away in the
earthquake of these times”. "Jesus came to serve not to be served",
the Archbishop quoted. "His followers can only humbly imitate such an
example". Pope Francis’s image of the Church as a field hospital is
appropriate for how the Church has responded in service through its many local
institutions to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Archbishop continued. The Covid-19
Commission that the Pope established is “looking to future with creativity”, he
said, and hopes to “launch a common dialogue” in its support of local
initiatives.
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