The ring worn by Archbishop Welby of the Anglican Church of Canterbury was a gift presented by Pope Montigny to Archbishop Welby’s predecessor, Archbishop Ramsey in March 1966.
(Vatican News Network)The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, finished his interview with Vatican Radio and showed his “ring” to those present. In fact, what he wore on his hand contained the historical event of the unity of the Duke. On March 23, 1966, the then chief bishop of the Anglican Church, Archbishop Michael Ramsey, came to Rome to visit Pope Montigny. At that time, the English Church had separated from the Roman Church for 4 centuries. Pope Paul VI, who is now a saint, made an extraordinary move in that opportunity. After carefully confirming that the Archbishop Ramsey had accepted the gift, Pope Paul VI took off the bishop’s ring and put it on the finger of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
It is estimated that the Pope entrusted this consultation work to his trusted secretary, Father Pasquale Macchi, in order to inquire about the pastor John Andrew (John Andrew) accompanying Archbishop Ramsey at the time. But the pope’s move was unexpected. He and the Anglican bishop prayed together outside the Basilica of St. Paul outside Rome and signed a historic joint statement between the two churches. Then the Pope approached Archbishop Ramsey and asked him to take off the ring. After the archbishop took off the ring, the pope took off his bishop’s ring made of gold and precious stones and put it on the archbishop of Canterbury’s finger. The archbishop knew that he would receive a gift, but he did not imagine this public move.
The day before this incident, during a private meeting with the Pope, the Anglican Archbishop also took the initiative to make an unexpected move by the Pope, that is, he knelt down before Pope Paul VI. Father Mackey stated that the ring of power worn by Archbishop Ramsey is “a sign of respect and friendship, and a sign of unity.” Today, Archbishop Verby, the successor of Archbishop Ramsey who came to Rome, wears this power ring with the pastoral emblem of Pope Montigny engraved on it.
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