On this day, 29 April 2011

This Friday morning in Rome we watched the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding live from Westminster Abbey. I remember in 1981 the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Diana Spencer, in my mind it was a more formal affair in a much larger church, St-Paul. Westminster Abbey built in 1066 has a certain ancient air about which only old stones can convey, if only they could speak. Every coronation has taken place at Westminster Abbey except for Edward V and Edward VIII.

The couple looked genuinely happy, they have know each other for some years. You have to give it to the British they certainly know how to do such events, down to the speakers who have the voice and demeanour for such an occasion. I could not help think that one day Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge will be King and Queen of Canada, the first Dominion of the Commonwealth, an ancient bond, such imagery moves me. Let’s only hope that they will be happy in their new life. Best Wishes to them.

H.R.H. Prince William and H.R.H. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

How to avoid a crowd

In the next few days major news event will take place, the Royal Wedding in London and in Rome the beatification of Jean-Paul II who died 6 years ago. These events will bring a lot of people to both cities.
In Rome already the crowds across the Tiber river in Vatican City are large and St-Peter's Square in front of the Basilica is already decorated with posters etc... making the usual solemn square look carnaval like.

So we are running away to Siena tomorrow, yes leaving town and going off to a beautiful city in Tuscany.
For the beatification, Jean-Paul II body was exhumed from his marble tomb and will be displayed. The idea behind it comes from the passage in first Corinthians 15.52, and the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. So if he is to become a Saint, Jean-Paul II must be incorruptible of body, this is doctrine for the Catholic Church. He is not the only Bishop of Rome to be on display, Pope John XXIII who died in 1962 is on display under an altar in St-Peter's Basilica and Pope Pius IX who was the Pope opposed to Italian democracy and unification is also on display in the church of San Lorenzo and he died 120 years ago. Like Communist leaders Popes are on parade a little ghoulish if you ask me.

As for the Royal Wedding let's hope it does not end up in divorce in 5 years time. By the way it's Catherine not Kate. It will be interesting to see what title she will be styled with, probably because William will be made a Duke upon marrying as is tradition, she would be Duchess of .....
Anyways the wedding will be on the television at 11 am Rome time, happy watching.