THE
P RTAL
November 2018
world and continues to support the development of the
Ordinariate in many ways. Many of our priests have
met Fr Tad Oxley, an official at the congregation, from
the United States, who has particular responsibility for
work with the Ordinariates. We were also mentioned
in other meetings, particularly in the Congregation for
Bishops, where I was asked to say a few words, and
also in the Congregation for Clergy.
Page 19
understood English when spoken slowly, he would be
using an interpreter who did the job extremely well.
Some members of the conference had been primed to
ask questions about the life of the Church in general
and in the United Kingdom in particular.
The Holy Father spoke freely in answer to these
questions. He has a very good sense of humour and
on occasions made amusing remarks, pointing out
One of the most interesting visits was with the that some priests seemed to have vinegar for breakfast,
Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who we rather than coffee! In all, we spent over two hours
met one evening for an hour and a half and again he with Pope Francis and it was the president of the
was quite happy to answer questions about the work Conference, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who drew the
of the secretariat. We touched on a number of issues meeting to a close. On leaving, we were given a gift of
including the recent development in the relationship a medallion of Our Lady with the Christ child.
between the Vatican and China. There have been
some concerns about this in the press but the Cardinal
It was a fascinating though tiring week beginning
pointed out it was provisional and time would tell early in the morning and often continuing until 8 at
whether it would be helpful to Catholic Christians night. We had lunch together every day but were free
living in communist China.
to go out in the evening for supper. I was fortunate to
visit the one member of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of
Of course, the highlight of an Ad Limina is the Walsingham who lives with her husband and children
audience with the Supreme Pontiff. During the last near Lake Bracciano, north of Rome. Her husband is
pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI met with every bishop a journalist with the American News Service situated
or ordinary for twenty minutes, though this practice on the Via della Conciliazione where I met him after
ceased towards the end of his time as pope. The present work on the Thursday evening and drove about twenty
Holy Father, Pope Francis, meets all the bishops of a miles north to their home where we enjoyed a very
conference together in one audience, so on the Friday pleasant evening. I had hoped to return back to Rome
morning we met with him in the Apostolic Palace.
with the last train but unfortunately it was cancelled
and I had to stay overnight before returning to Rome
He had already had a busy morning when he greeted the following morning.
us individually as we entered the room for the audience.
The major disappointment perhaps is I felt the present
Once we were all sat down, the Holy Father encouraged
us to be relaxed and to raise any questions. He also crisis in the Church was not really addressed. No doubt,
pointed out practicalities such as water and the nearest there are great concerns in Rome, but they were not
toilet, making us at ease. He explained that though he discussed with members of our Conference.