Cardinal Vincent Nichols has taken part in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
The involvement of the Archbishop of Westminster represents the first role by a Catholic leader in a Royal funeral in modern British history.
Cardinal Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, was among eight high-profile ecumenical guests at the service in Westminster Abbey.
In a three-minute intercession, he gave thanks for the Queen’s “commitment to the Commonwealth throughout her reign” and prayed that all people in authority “may promote justice and the common good”.
Other Catholics who took part in the funeral included Baroness Scotland of Asthal, the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, who gave the first reading
Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh and Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff also attended along with Liverpool-born Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, who was representing Pope Francis.
The last British Catholic monarch was King James II, who died in exile France in 1701. The subsequent Act of Succession stipulated that all British monarchs must be Anglicans and exercise the office of Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
There was no ecumenical character in the funeral of King George VI, the Queen’s father in 1952.
Both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were curious about ecumenical dialogue and they visited popes as well as welcomed two – Pope St John Pau II and Pope Benedict XVI – to Britain.
At a reception at Buckingham Palace, London, King Charles II told 30 religious leaders, including Cardinal Nichols, that he was committed to defending subjects of many faith backgrounds.
“I am a committed Anglican Christian, and at my Coronation I will take an oath relating to the settlement of the Church of England,” the King said. “At my Accession, I have already solemnly given– as has every Sovereign over the last 300 years – an Oath which pledges to maintain and preserve the Protestant faith in Scotland.
“I have always thought of Britain as a ‘community of communities.’ That has led me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty – less formally recognised but to be no less diligently discharged.
“It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for Faith itself and its practise through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.
“This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith. As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart. By
my most profound convictions, therefore – as well as by my position as Sovereign – I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.
“The beliefs that flourish in, and contribute to, our richly diverse society differ. They, and our society, can only thrive through a clear collective commitment to those vital principles of freedom of conscience, generosity of spirit and care for others which are, to me, the essence of our nationhood. I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.”
He added: “This conviction was the foundation of everything my beloved mother did for our country, over her years as our Queen. It has been the foundation of my own work as Prince of Wales. It will continue to be the foundation of all my work as King.”
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth, who died aged 96 after a 70-year reign, brings to a close 11 days of official mourning in the UK.
Her coffin, draped in the Royal Standard and bearing her crown, was drawn on a gun carriage After the service the coffin was driven to Windsor Castle were the Queen was interred in the royal vault of St George’s Chapel.