From the State Reception

17 September 2010

Air Vice-Marshal Ray Lock, the Commandant at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Shrivenham, just outside Swindon, writes with his thoughts on being with Her Majesty The Queen and the Holy Father at yesterday’s (16 September) State Reception.

Air Vice-Marshal Lock lives with his family in Churchdown, Gloucester and attends Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.  Having been brought up as an Anglican, he has worshipped at Roman Catholic churches since marrying his Catholic.  Because of his current appointment, he was invited to attend the State Reception at Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh.
 
What an amazing day.  If I had to summarize it in just one word, it would be - hats.  I'll get back to why later, but let me first describe my day out at Holyrood.
 
I'd arrived at Edinburgh (we may now officially pronounce it ‘berg’) via the Caledonian Sleeper (or non-sleeper as I gather it's called by its regular passengers) from London just after 7.00 am.  A quick shower, and my first Scottish five pound note change from the toilet attendant.  Despite working all day underground, he was full of the Pope’s visit and the enthusiasm I felt from him was replicated in just about everyone I met throughout the morning.  After a quick radio interview for my local station BBC Radio Gloucestershire from my mobile phone in the station forecourt, I was marched down the Royal Mile by my splendidly be-kilted British Army General colleague.  Again, everyone we met was brimming with enthusiasm and my colleague, who is Colonel of the Regiment, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, seemed to know most people we met - from the little old lady sat outside the local church to a serious politician from the nearby Parliament.  It was beginning to feel a bit like a great big village fete.

At Holyrood Palace, I was positioned to the left of the square and mingled with a fantastic mix of people as we compared notes and the most often asked question was “why are you here?”  A long-old wait passed by in a flash as I chatted with the German Consul to Scotland, the head of Scottish TV, the owner of Thomson comics (think Beano) and the chief of the Northumberland Tourist Board.  Everyone shared my enthusiasm, but apart from the obvious clerics (obvious by their attire), there wasn’t a great deal of religion spoken.

The arrival of the Pope’s convoy was somewhat of an anti-climax as we couldn’t see into the car, and with a lengthy procession ahead, it wasn’t clear that he had arrived.  Probably one of those moments that looked better on TV.  But once on the podium I caught my first glimpse of Pope Benedict.  Not much taller than the Queen and slightly hunched against the chilly ‘wee’ highland breeze that even the glorious September sun couldn’t overcome in these northern latitudes, the Pope seemed physically frail.  With the exchange of national anthems (I didn’t realise the Vatican had its own - a jaunty number that probably went on just a little bit too long), both disappeared into the house behind and we were escorted to the rear garden and a large white marquee.

Inside I continued to meet every variety of great and good and the hats (I said I would return to headdress) signposted the multi-cultural multi-faith make-up of the guests.  Sikh turban, Bishop’s mitre, Jewish shtreimel and kappel, Muslim kufi and hijab, glengarry of the British Army, service dress hat of the Salvation Army, and an entire high street catalogue - the top end of the high street I’d say.  What we shared was that we were all British, and we had all been invited by our Sovereign to meet the Pontiff.  And most of us had a nice crisp glass of Mumm’s champagne by this stage!

When the Queen and the Pope appeared again it was to a polite smattering of applause.  Her Majesty spoke energetically and warmly, and I thought her comments about a common Christian heritage struck me more powerfully than her polite acknowledgment of the Catholic Church’s contribution to encouraging world peace and alleviating global poverty.  I liked her references to greater mutual and respectful understanding, and mutual trust, and her conclusion that religion must never become a vehicle of hatred seemed pointed more outside the Christian Church.  Concluding that freedom to worship was at the core of a democratic society was certainly well received - we were isolated from any protests in the city, but a BBC cameraman told me that there had been an outbreak of ‘pregnant nuns’.  I think he meant people dressed as pregnant nuns!

And then the Pope spoke, and for the first time I began to feel his humility, dignity, confidence.  His place as God’s living spokesman on earth (and apologies if this is ecumenically inaccurate) really struck.  Moving swiftly through the necessary thanks, Pope Benedict’s references to great Britons as a force for good, including Wilberforce, Livingston, Nightingale, all of whom were inspired by their faith, laid the foundation for his pointed comments that followed.  His early recollection of how Britain had stood against the Nazis felt a genuine admission of his nation’s past evil, whilst not provoking the rather irritating media comments about his own experiences in the Hitler youth.

Then came the crunch - or rather the two crunches.  Firstly the Pope told Britain, who he said enjoyed a key political and economic position and whose government and people shape ideas across the world, that we had a duty to act wisely and for the common good.  And particularly, and this chimed so well with a seminar I had attended the previous evening on strategic communications, he reminded us that because the British media is so widely followed, we had a greater responsibility than most to promote the peace of nations.  This wasn’t a message I was expecting, and as I write now, I’m not sure whether it’s been taken forward by our own media.

Second crunch was the Pope’s clarion call for us to maintain respect and values against the push of “aggressive secularism”.  Now this, I know, has been widely reported but to hear it, inside a tent, champers in hand and surrounded by many who may have supported the concept of a secular society, this was a lightning strike and the air around me fizzled and crackled.  Some of it in righteous indignation, some of it as if oxygen had been wafted like a spiritual version of a nascent Scottish gale over the glowing spark of the soul.

Applause.  Long applause, from all around me.  Heartfelt, moving, gratified, an expression from us all that this man had spoken to us, and that it mattered what he had said.  We may have taken it to our hearts, but the government officials, charity heads, religious leaders, and all those others whose leadership role in British Society had brought us together to Edinburgh in the first place, must now bring it to our heads.

I didn’t manage to touch the Pope; too junior to make the top echelon guest, I stared as he passed just six feet by.  I didn’t touch him, but he touched me.

One final hat.  When our national anthem was played, the Pope removed his cap in respect, an indication of the humility of this man.  Humble, honest, confident, concerned, speaking truth unto (worldly) power.  A great man.

Air Vice-Marshal Ray Lock

You can follow Pope Benedict XVI's speeches on the Vatican website.

You can watch the papal visit live online at the official papal visit website thepapalvisit.org.  

You’re invited to celebrate together.  Watch the Holy Father beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman live on a big screen at the Cathedral on Sunday (19 September).

Other ways to follow the papal visit online and have your say include Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Our series of podcasts introducing us to Cardinal John Henry Newman ran througout August on cliftondiocese.com.  We heard from local Newman scholars who’ll give us an insight into life of the man Pope Benedict XVI will beatify here in England.  All the episodes are still online:
The Life of Newman
The Life of Newman - The Discussion
Newman’s Importance Today
Newman’s Importance Today - The Discussion
Newman and Education
Newman and Education - The Discussion
Newman and Laity
Newman and Laity - The Discussion

Another of our podcast series takes you to the places where Cardinal John Henry Newman lived, preached, and where he’ll beatified by the Holy Father.  All episodes of 'In the Footsteps of Newman' are still online:
Maryvale
Oscott College
Newman's room
The Oratory
Cofton Park

Clifton Diocese Papal Visit Coordinator Father Michael McAndrew visited local people preparing for the papal visit.  All episodes of 'Father Michael Meets' are still online:
Father Richard McKay
The Connors family
Hugh Greenhalf
Bernice Pascal
Oisin Hawes

Bath priest Father Peter Cornwell presented a podcast series on Cardinal John Henry Newman for cliftondiocese.com.  Father Peter has a particular insight into Cardinal Newman as he’s a former Vicar of Newman’s old church in Oxford - the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.  All the podcasts are still online:
Getting to Know Newman
Newman the Pastor
Battered Newman
To Live is to Change - Newman the Thinker
Journey’s End

You can also make your donation towards the visit at the official website.  It's simple, secure and direct.

Our striking posters, displayed in all our parishes and many other places, welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom are available to all.  You can download your copy in the multimedia panel on the right and put them up to welcome the Holy Father and his historic visit.