Papal Nuncio visits Diocese of East Anglia

Papal Nuncio with Bishop Peter Collins, Bishop Alan Hopes and Norwich Catholic school pupils at St John's Cathedral.

Source: Diocese of East Anglia

The Papal Nuncio to Great Britain, His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, has paid a three-day visit to the Diocese of East Anglia and has been in Newmarket, Poringland, Norwich, Quidenham, Walsingham and King's Lynn, meeting priests, pupils and parishioners.

The visit began with a Mass for diocesan priests and deacons on Wednesday June 12 at Our Lady Immaculate and St Etheldreda in Newmarket.

Bishop Peter Collins welcomed the Nuncio, saying: "Your Excellency, it is my privilege and joy to welcome you to the Diocese of East Anglia. You come to us on visitation and we rejoice for your presence in our midst represents and manifests our bond with His Holiness Pope Francis as successor of St Peter.

"The Holy Father calls upon us all to mould all our undertakings in fidelity to the Gospel. Without such a linkage, all of efforts would be in vain.

"Within the spirit and processes of synodality, here in East Anglia we are facing the spiritual and pastoral challenges of the future. As we strive to evolve our vision and structures, we continue to draw strength from the prophetic and apostolic foundations of the church."

In a Q&A session with clergy, Archbishop Miguel Maury remarked that "someone important in the Vatican has said to him 'the English Catholic church is small but is very thinking'. He spoke about his experience as a Vatican ambassador in Rwanda, Uganda, Morocco, Egypt, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan and Romania before coming to England a year ago. England is now a land of mission he said.

He also brought a message from Pope Francis: "I want to give a real thank-you for your fidelity. One good example of a priest is worth many words - smile and be joyful."

The Nuncio and Bishop's party later paid a private visit to The National Stud in Newmarket where the Nuncio blessed the Duke of Roxburghe Stallion Unit and met the Ascot Gold Cup winning racehorse, now stallion, Stradivarius.

A formal reception was held at the Bishop's White House during the evening.

On Thursday, June 13, The Nuncio celebrated a 10am public Mass at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich attended by parishioners, Cathedral Canons and pupils from Notre Dame High School and Notre Dame Prep School and the St Francis and St Augustine's primary schools in Norwich.

Pupils did the Readings and Prayers and afterwards met the Nuncio and had their picture taken with him.

During his homily, Bishop Peter, spoke direct to pupils about the Nuncio and his position and role as a diplomatic representative of the Vatican across the world. He also gave them some homework about St Anthony of Padua.

Lunch with the St John's Cathedral Canons was followed by a private visit to the Carmel Convent in Quidenham in Norfolk and then a visit to the Anglican Shrine in Walsingham, having already visited the Catholic National Shrine earlier in the year.

On Friday the Nuncio visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in King's Lynn and paid a private visit to Oxburgh Hall where he met Sir Henry Paston-Bedingfeld.