A historical irony
LONDON, England (Reuters) — It must rank as one of the most ironic twists in the tangled history of the British monarchy’s relations with Rome.
When King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife and marry his pregnant lover, he denounced the pope and, in a flagrant act of rebellion against distant Rome, created the Church of England.
Now, almost 500 years later, heir to the throne Prince Charles has postponed his wedding — to a divorcee at that — to go to Rome to pay his respects at the funeral of Pope John Paul.
“It is hard not to catch one’s breath at the rupture with national history that all this represents” the columnist Martin Kettle wrote in the Guardian.
When Clement VII died in 1534, Henry VIII didn’t even bother to send condolences.
Charles, however, will take his place amid the pomp of a papal funeral along with Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
I’m sure the irony rings louder and harder in England, but those with an appreciation of history will also shake their heads ruefully.
