To celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 94th birthday this year, British Ambassador to the Holy See, Sally Axworthy, hosted a virtual afternoon tea to honor the Church’s contribution to tackling Covid-19 worldwide.

The June 16 tea was held in lieu of an annual private gathering in Rome, to celebrate and toast Her Majesty’s birthday.

ZENIT’s Senior Vatican Correspondent, Deborah Lubov, was ready with her Zoom login and chamomile. Those joining the tea party were primarily foreign ambassadors to the Holy See, Vatican officials, diplomats, religious superiors, and a couple of journalists.

The British Ambassador welcomed the invitees joining virtually. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, was a guest of honor and spoke of the Queen’s dedication to service, inspiration and service.

The Vatican Foreign Minister and British Ambassador highlighted various ways the Church and British Commonwealth have and do work together. Pope Francis cordially welcome Queen Elizabeth to the Vatican in 2014, and Her Majesty has met more with five Popes in history.

Through his response and extraordinary Urbi et Orbi that rainy Friday night, “Pope Francis gave us hope in the dark days when the virus first struck,” Ambassador Axworthy said.

Australian-born Archbishop Gallagher also reflected on the Pope’s commitment to tackling this pandemic and its consequences, especially through instituting the COVID 19 Commission. He stressed how false securities seemed to fall away at this tragic time, and helped one rediscover what’s really important in life. He also stressed how the Pope in various ways is trying to ‘roll out his field hospital’ to all those in need.

Father Arturo Sosa Abascal, SJ, President, Union of Superiors General (USG), spoke and praised the new types of pastoral attention priests have learned and lived even during lockdown.

There were also brief contributions from invited guests on the role the Church has played in tackling Covid-19, including Marta Petrosillo from Caritas Internationalis, who lamented that while it has not been feasible to help everyone who has requested it due to limited funds, that Caritas has still assisted nearly 9 million people. The Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo di Segni, also underscored the importance of religions working together at times of crisis.

One religious sister reflected on how in Congo, it was beautiful to see all the different religions, naming specifically Catholics, Muslims, and Orthodox, worked together to combat COVID19 contagion.

Ambassador Axworthy concluded the birthday event quoting St. John Henry Newman’s poem ‘Lead Kindly Light’ and with the UK and Holy See National Anthems being sung by the BE Choir and the Pontifical Beda College choir.

The Hashtag for the event was: #Tea2ThankU

Long live the Queen…

The post FEATURE: For Queen’s Birthday, British Ambassador to Holy See Hosts Virtual Afternoon Tea to Honor Church’s Contribution to Tackling Covid-19 appeared first on ZENIT – English.