Pope Francis has given King Charles III a relic of the True Cross of Jesus as a personal gift ahead of the King’s coronation next month. Source: The Tablet.
The relic has been incorporated into the Cross of Wales, a new processional cross presented by the King as a centenary gift to the Church in Wales. The Cross of Wales will lead the Coronation procession at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
The Church in Wales described the gift from Pope Francis as “a significant ecumenical gesture”.
Inscribed with words from St David’s last sermon, the Cross of Wales was blessed yesterday by the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, at Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno.
Made from recycled silver bullion, the cross was commissioned by King Charles when Prince of Wales to celebrate the centenary of the Church in Wales, with the Goldsmiths’ Company delivering the design and production processes.
It also includes a shaft of Welsh windfall timber and the stand is made of Welsh slate. It is inscribed with words from the last sermon of St David: “Byddwch lawen. Cadwch y ffydd. Gwnewch y Pethau Bychain”, which translates as: “Be joyful. Keep the faith. Do the little things.”
At the centre of the new Cross of Wales is a relic of the True Cross, a personal gift from Pope Francis.
The Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff and Bishop of Menevia, Mark O’Toole, said, “With a sense of deep joy we embrace this Cross, kindly given by King Charles, and containing a relic of the True Cross, generously gifted by the Holy See.
“It is not only a sign of the deep Christian roots of our nation but will, I am sure, encourage us all to model our lives on the love given by our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
FULL STORY
Pope gives King ‘relic of True Cross’ to mark Coronation (By Ruth Gledhill, The Tablet)
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