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Is the Pope Softening on Divorce?
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L'Osservatore Romano / AP Photo
The pope's private visit today with Prince Charles and Camilla—who was previously married to a Catholic—is raising questions about a potential shift in church doctrine.
In anticipation of Prince Charles and Camilla’s meeting with the pope today, the British press had predicted that Benedict XVI would chide them for being divorced, and the royal couple would be presented with a facsimile of Henry VIII’s 16th-century request for the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Neither of those things came to pass, so observers were left to draw comparisons between this visit to Vatican City and and earlier ones made by Charles with Princess Diana in 1985.
“She’s not Lady Di,” commented a member of the crowd waiting to get a glimpse of the royal couple’s Maserati. “She looks like a strega [witch] in black.” The Duchess of Cornwall had opted for the most sober ensemble, a black veil, matronly black fitted suit, and a single strand of pearls.
While neither Camilla nor Charles are Catholic, Camilla was married to one and as such is seen as an “unforgiven” in the church.
But if Camilla failed to supplant Diana as the queen of Italy’s heart, she nevertheless managed to set a precedent that may turn out to be important. While neither she nor Charles are Catholic, Camilla was married to one and as such is seen as an “unforgiven” in the church. The fact that she was granted a private audience, according to many Vatican watchers, may signal an easing of the church’s intransigent opposition to divorce, especially given the timing of the visit. The meeting comes just days after the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic Church over his own divorce, which led to the creation of the Church of England.
In fact, sources in the private meeting say that among the topics Prince Charles discussed with the Vatican’s secretary of state was the proposed change to Britian’s Act of Succession that currently forbids royalty from marrying Roman Catholics. The Vatican wants to see that ban lifted. Prince Charles has also been highly critical of the Holy See’s opposition to birth control and its effect on overpopulation—but that topic was noticeably missing from the conversation, perhaps as a concession.
Prince Charles presented the pontiff with 12 dessert plates hand-painted with flowers from the royal garden, saying he hoped they’d be “of use.” The royal couple was given an etching of St. Peter’s church before Michelangelo designed the dome. Perhaps not coincidentally, the original painting from which the etching was made is 500 years old—at the time when the English church broke away from the Vatican.
Prince Charles and Camilla are in Italy primarily to tout the prince’s eco-friendly policies. On Monday morning, he addressed members of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, greeting them in perfect Italian, then urging them to use “inspired leadership” to help save the planet by cutting carbon-dioxide emissions and reducing their individual carbon footprints. Doing so, he said, would create jobs and ensure that companies stay economically competitive while moving Italy and all of Europe toward energy independence.
But a few days earlier, the prince was taken to task for choosing to travel in a super-luxe private jet that had been converted to include extra amenities for the royal couple and their staff. His flights to Rome, Venice, and Berlin will leave a 52.95-ton carbon footprint—13 times more than going by commercial airliner—according to a study by Carbon Managers, a British organization that audits emissions.
After meeting with the pope, the royals lunched with members of the Slow Food movement and United Nations food groups, where Italian chefs prepared special cuts of British beef the royals brought from England. Later Prince Charles weathered a wind storm to tour the murals of the recently excavated Casa di Augusto on the Palatine Hill overlooking the Roman forum.
Tonight they will attend a gala dinner hosted by the British embassy in Rome. Tomorrow, while Charles addresses Italy’s influential Confindustria business lobby, Camilla will visit the Keats-Shelley Memorial House on the Spanish Steps.
Later the two will head to Venice where they will address another environmental business group and tour the recently rebuilt La Fenice Opera House. In Venice, the royal couple may also get to see the effects of global warming firsthand—acqua alta, or high flood waters—are expected to inundate the canal city.
Barbie Nadeau has reported from Italy for Newsweek magazine since 1997. She also writes for CNN Traveller, Budget Travel Magazine, and Frommer's.
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GeorgeB
Soft on the elite and powerful...no change. Like, who cares?
Abelard
"In anticipation of Prince Charles and Lady Camilla's meeting with the Pope today, the British press had predicted that Benedict XVI would chide them for being divorced, and the royal couple would be presented with a facsimile of Henry VIII's 16th century request for the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon."
I think this says more about the opinions that British press have of His Holiness than about His Holiness himself...
sippewissett
Here's a clear case where "doctrine" (policy) is clearly lagging "practice". Money talks and has talked for centuries. The Church "annuls" that which is convenient if it can keep or acquire a new church-goer (donor).
Newt Gingrich's recent conversion to Catholicism during his third marriage (and two affairs) is proof of the internal hyprocrisy of the Church and of the need for the Pope to catch up with what's actually practiced INside his Church.
cbeenthere
How could you ever reach such a conclusion in regard to this Pope is beyond me. Silly you.
Brendino
I was gonna say, this has been one of the more conservative popes...I wouldn't expect him to budge.
trends4life
Camilla looks like a mess with that ensemble on...she is no lady di
lorizb
I agree with cbeenthere, what a silly assumption. It seems as though there was nothing else to write about.
cbeenthere
If the Church wants to discourage divorce fine by me; but it happens. The dilemma is that they recognize that; yet hold on to the humiliating annulment process. This is where they betray their faithful. And they know that too. It is a sad situation, and to think that this meeting indicates anything is naive to say the least.
scoromastel
Wrong on many accounts. Number one, the HF granted them an audience and a piece of art, not Communion. Recall that our dear Speaker, Mrs Pelosi, who in the eyes of the Church is complicit in the deaths of millions of little ones, also enjoyed a papal audience. To believe that such a change is even remotely possible with this pope is inexcusable. May I be religion reporter for the Daily Beast, please?
(I shouldn't, but...)
...and YOU, sippewissett, I'm sick of people using Newt as an example of hypocrisy; it shows great ignorance of the subject. The only marriage the Church consider insoluble is sacramental marriage, plain and simple. Yes, he was a sinner. 'Most' saints start out that way. Remember, "Saul, Saul, why prosecutest thou me?"
cbeenthere
Who says Newt had a Catholic marriage after his conversion. No sex allowed until that Catholic marriage. Maybe he did and it did not make the news his conversion did. Maybe, just maybe, Newt is playing with us. New news Newt.
Tommaso
No story here. Idiotic post. Moreover, were Ms Nadeau a competent reporter she would know that a duchess is never referred to as "Lady". A wife of a lesser peer (Lady Spencer, Earl Spencer's wife), or the daughter of a duke,marquess or earl (Lady Diana Spencer,his daughter, the given name being essential), or the wife of a baronet or other knight (Lady Churchill, Sir Winson's wife), or a lesser peer in her own right (Lady Thatcher). But never a duchess. "Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall" or " Prince Charles and the duchess" , but "Lady Camilla" does not exist. Nor, for that matter does a Pope Benedict exist who is going to alter the most ancient Catholic teachings on marriage. Where are your editors? Are they similarly ignorant? This is one more example of a reporter creating a story simply to create a story.
keyofivory
"The meeting comes just days after the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church over his own divorce, which led to the creation of the Church of England."
Where on earth did you get this? Henry may have become king upon his father's death on 22 April 1509, but he didn't break with the Roman Catholic Church until 1534. There is no way that "a few days ago" could have been the 500th anniversary of anything related to the English Reformation.
skarabrae
"The meeting comes just days after the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church over his own divorce, which led to the creation of the Church of England."
This is not an accurate statement of fact. And despicable for such a web site. 1509 is the year that Henry VIII ascended the throne of England, not the year he broke with the Vatican and started the Church of England. That did not happen until decades later - in the 1530s, as any one watching The Tudors would now know.
I know this reporter is also covering the Amanda Knox trail, Regardless, this mistake is big and pretty embarrassing. New Yorker fact checkers you have not.
Can I believe anything I read that originates here on this site?
socialworklady
An story involving the Pope, and nothing from pricklypear?!
cbeenthere
Perhaps because I, her rabid left "altar" ego, got here first.
cbeenthere
After all didn't I finally have to proclaim "not our Pope he wouldn't do that!".
penscott
The lesson to be learned from this silly, illogically speculative
bit of nonsense is: don't believe anything you read in the British press.
Thank you.
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