Cameron and Palace should show the Pope more respect
The press, too, has been ungenerous, highlighting his Falklands remarks. What else could he have said?
DAVID CAMERON'S joke at Pope Francis I's expense was rather good - "the white smoke over the Falklands was clear". Just the sort of thing that the Notting Hill set would find amusing, especially as Pope Francis is an avowed opponent of their current obsession, gay marriage.
As the faithful, and many others, celebrated across the world the election of a new Pope who took the name of the gentlest of the saints – Francis of Assisi - David Cameron showed off his clever-clever one-liners.
Last month, while visiting the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in the Punjab, Cameron adopted a more solemn tone, donning a headscarf and regretting the 1919 massacre there by Gurkha and Baluchi troops under British command. Very respectful. No jokes. Every word and photo opportunity carefully designed in homage to 'diversity' and post-imperial guilt.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But it seems Cameron has no such respect for Roman Catholicism as was made pretty clear by the representatives he sent to the Pope's inauguration - Ken Clarke and Baroness Warsi.
Buckingham Palace seems to have taken the same attitude, despatching as the Queen's representative her cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, currently 21st in line to the throne.
The reaction of much of the British press to the new Pope has also been ungenerous - highlighting his sermon at a memorial service last year for the dead of the Falklands War in which he praised the fallen for their bravery in fighting against the British "usurper".
Few who sailed South with the task force in 1982 would take offence. He was speaking more in pity and mourning than in national bombast. In any case, nearly every Argentinian regards the British as usurpers. And at the end of the war most British soldiers were moved to pity by the state of their opponents. Bedraggled, frightened, confused, they were left for weeks on wintry mountains while - except in some elite formations - their officers often retired at night to the warmth and comfort of Port Stanley.
Most tried to do their duty to their country as they saw it. Many were from the slums of Buenos Aires, like the Pope himself. As Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, what was he expected to say?
More than 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, including 5.5 million Britons, accept Pope Francis's spiritual authority as 263rd successor to St Peter. It's a worldwide church – the largest and most diverse human organisation of all, ever. So much so that in March 2006 Pope Benedict ceased to style himself ‘Patriarch of the West' because the title did not properly reflect the global nature of Roman Catholicism.
To show just how behind the programme the Palace and Cameron are, the papal inauguration was attended by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, head of the Orthodox Church, who has not been represented at the ceremony since refusing to accept papal authority in 1054. The Patriarch of Constantinople still doesn't. Nor, of course, does the Church of England, of which the Queen is Supreme Governor.
But Bartholomew respects the papacy and knows that without a thriving Roman Catholic Church, Christianity itself will suffer. He felt he should be there and attended in person. It's a shame that neither our royal family nor our government had the good manners to do the same.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published