Could the next pope be English?
In the Catholic hierarchy a red hat marks out a cardinal. They are the church's most senior generals, with the red signifying they will spill their blood for the faith.
Four living Englishmen have such hats, all presented by Pope Francis. The oldest is Michael Fitzgerald OBE, from Walsall, an Arabist and expert on Christian-Muslim dialogue. Next is Timothy Radcliffe, a Londoner, former Master of the Dominicans. Third is Vincent Nichols, a Lancastrian, now Archbishop of Westminster. Youngest is Arthur Roche, a Yorkshireman and senior Vatican official responsible for liturgy.
The bookies are not offering stellar odds on any of them as papabile (Vatican watchers' jargon for a serious papal contender), but bookies and pundits are regularly wrong-footed by the mysterious windings of conclave voting. In Italian there is a saying that he who enters the conclave a pope leaves a cardinal. So, frankly, any of the English Four could get the top job.
According to the rules, the conclave can, in fact, choose any unmarried adult male Catholic. Given the UK has a population of 68 million, of whom around eight per cent are Catholic, that suggests we are, on paper at least, in with a fighting chance!
If this sounds far fetched, remember that it has happened before. And not that long ago in church terms. We had an English pope in the twelfth century (when the population of England was about 2.5 million).
Nicholas Breakspear was born in or near St Albans. William the Conqueror's cleverest son, Henry I, was on the throne, and life was relatively tranquil. Breakspear may have taken holy orders in England, but he preferred the sunshine, so headed off to the south of France.
In all likelihood Breakspear was running from the catastrophe that had suddenly ripped England apart one winter's day in 1135. Stephen of Blois had usurped the throne, and the Empress Matilda was fighting him for it, village by village, field by field, reducing the country to miles of smoking rubble and starving people.
Breakspear was tall, had a good voice, preached well, and was also handy with administration. He was talent-spotted, and appointed Abbot of St Ruf in Avignon. On a trip to Rome he caught the pope's eye, was made a cardinal, then sent off to Scandinavia to reform the church there. He did it so well that, in December 1154, he was elected pope and took the name Adrian (Hadrian) IV.
That same month a young and dynamic Henry II finished the civil war in England and began ushering in a golden age of English influence. By a deft marriage to the heiress Eleanor of Aquitaine he ruled land from Scotland to Spain, and England was soon a thriving military, mercantile and political force on the European stage.
The main challenge facing Breakspear was Europe. Specifically, King Frederick Barbarossa of Germany wanted Breakspear to crown him as Holy Roman Emperor. Breakspear, in turn, wanted it made very plain that any power Barbarossa enjoyed came from God. Meanwhile, King William I of Sicily was on military manoeuvres harassing papal lands. All Breakspear's diplomatic skills were required, and he eventually managed to quieten military threats and make peace with William. He also found common ground with Barbarossa allowing him to perform the imperial coronation.
Meanwhile the pope did not forget his homeland. He gave generously to St Albans Abbey, and confirmed the Archbishop of York's freedom from Canterbury and control over Scottish bishops.
Most consequentially for the British isles, when Henry II started eying up Ireland, Breakspear gave him the island as a papal fief, sending him an emerald ring to seal the feudal deal. The legal basis for this was the ancient Donation of Constantine, a charter vesting all Emperor Constantine's western lands to the pope (later, predictably, found to be a forgery). Henry then conquered swathes of Ireland – notably in Leinster and Munster – and for centuries English kings styled themselves Lord of Ireland as a papal title. This lasted until Henry VIII split from Rome, causing himself a spectacular constitutional headache, which he solved by strong-arming the Irish parliament into voting him in as their king.
Breakspear died in 1159 and was buried in St Peter's. His greatest achievement was to steer a solid course through fractious European politics, and he emerged as a notable pope of the period, serving as a model for several of his successors.
And so, as the conclave prepares to meet, it would be pleasing to think that the spirit of Breakspear still moves around Rome, and that his island nation may, once again, proclaim across sun-dappled cricket pitches, while clutching pints of warm flat beer, 'Habemus papam!'.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Religious leaders, refugees call for unity at ‘Peaceful Stand Together' gathering
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Religious leaders in Baton Rouge came together to speak about immigration. 'How can you say you love God if you don't love your neighbor that you see?' asked L.O.R.I. Communications Director Sharon Njie. That question hung in the air Tuesday as religious leaders and community members gathered for the Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants' (LORI) 'Peaceful Stand Together' event — a day of storytelling, open dialogue, and reflection amid mounting global and national tensions over immigration. Held in Baton Rouge, the event brought together representatives from Christian, Catholic, Muslim, and other faith communities, who took part in a public panel discussion about the moral imperatives of their traditions in the face of current crises, including immigration raids and refugee displacement. 'Everyone needs to stand together and come together in unity and know that we need to live by the words of God: love thy neighbor as you will love yourself,' said L.O.R.I. Policy Associate Tia Fields, echoing the day's central theme of unity over division. The message resonated deeply with Njie, a migrant who fled political turmoil in her home country. 'I've lost families,' she said. 'If I look back home, all I see are graves. I came into this country with no family, but the families I have are the people standing next to me.' As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations continue in cities like Los Angeles, President Donald Trump has defended his administration's stance on immigration, pointing to national security and economic concerns. 'Very simply, we will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean and safe again,' Trump said earlier this week. 'It's happening very quickly.' But those at the Louisiana gathering offered a different vision — one grounded in empathy, justice, and inclusion. 'There are so many challenges that we face in this world,' said Fields. 'I think now is the time — more than ever — to open our doors, not close them.' Each faith leader emphasized a shared moral calling: to see the humanity in every person and to stand with the marginalized. The stories shared ranged from personal loss and migration to acts of community service and solidarity. 'And I still try to ensure that I give back to this community,' Njie said. 'Not just giving back in the work I do on a local level, but also on a national level.' For attendees, the gathering was more than an event — it was a call to action. A reminder that compassion, not fear, should guide public policy and personal conviction. Chris Olave back on the field healthy for the New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints feel hunger, not urgency to get back to winning ways Religious leaders, refugees call for unity at 'Peaceful Stand Together' gathering Amazon impacts Baton Rouge economy; pushes businesses to grow Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia argue for 'due process' in new court filing Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Trump's travel ban fuels despair and disgust with politics among Arab Americans in Michigan
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — The ban on travel from certain countries that took effect Monday — reminiscent of President Donald Trump's first-term restrictions that became known to many as the ' Muslim ban ' — is once again souring relationships among Arab American voters in the key battleground state of Michigan, a group that Trump sought to make inroads with during the 2024 election. It came as a particular shock to many Yemeni Americans in the Dearborn area, who were surprised to find their country on Trump's new list banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of 12 different countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East. 'This is the reward to the community that defied everybody else?' asked Wali Altahif, a local activist who advocates for Yemeni and other immigrant communities. 'That said, 'No, we're going to support you, we going to vote for you'?' The new proclamation, which Trump signed last week , applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. While it may not elicit the same protests as 2017, many Yemeni and Arab Americans in the all important battleground state see it as yet another offense contributing to enormous dissatisfaction with both major political parties in the U.S. The aim of the new ban, the Trump administration said, is to 'protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.' Altahif described it as 'selective discrimination' and 'collective punishment.' Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab American populations in the U.S., largely concentrated in the Detroit metropolitan area. The state was an epicenter of anger at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the administration's support of Israel's offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in a worsening humanitarian crisis and sparked a historic shift away from the Democratic Party. With Trump's history of policy and rhetoric, including the restriction on travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries during his first term, the new restrictions and anger over the toll on Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war have left many Arab American voters feeling that both major political parties have failed to deliver for them. A dramatic change in Dearborn In the November election, Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Dearborn, America's largest Arab-majority city, since 2000. Harris lost 15,000 of Democratic votes compared to Biden's 2020 win after Trump visited the area days before the election, campaigned in a local cafe and said he'd bring peace to the Middle East. The shift was muted but real. Trump picked up 3,000 votes in the city and third-party candidate votes swelled to 20% of the overall vote. Many did not vote for a candidate at all. Trump won Michigan — and the presidency — for the second time in three attempts. In Dearborn, nearly half of its 110,000 residents are of Arab descent and the largest Arab nationalities represented are from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq . Many Yemeni Americans in the metro Detroit area voted for Trump in the 2024 election after his vows for peace , which came at a time of widespread conflict and instability in the Middle East, Altahif said. In Yemen, a near decade-long civil war has pushed its population to the brink of famine . In Trump's first months in office, the U.S. bombed Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen in a two-month long campaign that ended with a ceasefire agreement in May . 'Every single family of Yemeni descendant is affected by the war in Yemen,' Altahif said. 'And we were hopeful based on Trump's promise that he was going to end the war.' Rasheed Alnozili, publisher of the Dearborn-based online and print news services the Yemeni American News, said the travel ban will only stigmatize Yemeni and Arab communities in America and fuel Islamophobia, not counter terrorism. 'They are part of the society, they are raising their kids,' he said of Yemeni communities. There are exceptions to the ban. They include green-card holders and people with U.S. family members who apply for visas in connection to their spouses, children or parents. Altahif expects the ban to make it much harder for families separated by the distance to reunite. He said it took his wife from Yemen five years to get a visa approved before coming to live in the U.S. in 2024. Widespread unease Many in the community are reluctant to talk openly about the new travel restrictions for fear of retaliation, even if they are U.S. citizens or green-card holders. Others are reluctant to leave the country for fear of being held up by border agents when returning home, something Arab and Muslim Americans already report dealing with at airports. Amir Makled, a Dearborn-based civil rights attorney, said the restrictions have been 'similarly chilling' for Muslim travelers compared to the 2017 policy. He's received several calls from people worried about being detained when traveling back to the U.S., even if they are citizens or lawful residents. One person of Yemeni descent ultimately canceled travel for the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a pillar of Islamic faith, Makled said. 'People overall are opting not to travel, even when they have a legal right to do so,' he said. Both major political parties will have to appeal to the Arab and Muslim communities in the Detroit area in key upcoming races in 2026. With open races for the governor's office and a U.S. Senate seat, a few thousand votes could tip the balance of power in Lansing and in Congress. 'Where these voters land is going to, I think, make a difference in terms of who ends up in those seats,' said Peter Trumbore, chair of the department of political science at Oakland University. The war in Gaza drove Yemeni Americans away from the Democratic Party, Altahif said, and Trump has not made good on his promise to quickly bring an end to the Israel-Hamas war which has resulted in the deaths of more than 55,000 Palestinians . Altahif noted state Democrats who have vocally opposed the travel ban, but said he has not seen Republicans do the same. Osama Siblani, publisher of the Dearborn-based Arab American News, said candidates from both parties who are running for governor and the U.S. Senate have met with him in recent months as the 2026 midterm races start. He also met with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a longtime Democrat who is running as an independent for the governor's office . Siblani called the travel ban a 'racist' executive action that does nothing to help people in war-torn Yemen and Sudan, nations where many metro Detroit residents have relatives. But their disappointment in both Democrats and Republicans may leave them looking for a third option. 'I can see that there is an appetite in our community or a need in our communities to vote for an independent,' Siblani said. ___ Associated Press video journalist Mike Housholder contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump's travel ban fuels despair and disgust with politics among Arab Americans in Michigan
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — The ban on travel from certain countries that took effect Monday — reminiscent of President Donald Trump's first-term restrictions that became known to many as the ' Muslim ban ' — is once again souring relationships among Arab American voters in the key battleground state of Michigan, a group that Trump sought to make inroads with during the 2024 election. It came as a particular shock to many Yemeni Americans in the Dearborn area, who were surprised to find their country on Trump's new list banning travel to the U.S. by citizens of 12 different countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East. 'This is the reward to the community that defied everybody else?" asked Wali Altahif, a local activist who advocates for Yemeni and other immigrant communities. "That said, 'No, we're going to support you, we going to vote for you'?' The new proclamation, which Trump signed last week, applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. While it may not elicit the same protests as 2017, many Yemeni and Arab Americans in the all important battleground state see it as yet another offense contributing to enormous dissatisfaction with both major political parties in the U.S. The aim of the new ban, the Trump administration said, is to 'protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.' Altahif described it as 'selective discrimination' and 'collective punishment.' Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab American populations in the U.S., largely concentrated in the Detroit metropolitan area. The state was an epicenter of anger at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the administration's support of Israel's offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in a worsening humanitarian crisis and sparked a historic shift away from the Democratic Party. With Trump's history of policy and rhetoric, including the restriction on travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries during his first term, the new restrictions and anger over the toll on Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war have left many Arab American voters feeling that both major political parties have failed to deliver for them. A dramatic change in Dearborn In the November election, Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Dearborn, America's largest Arab-majority city, since 2000. Harris lost 15,000 of Democratic votes compared to Biden's 2020 win after Trump visited the area days before the election, campaigned in a local cafe and said he'd bring peace to the Middle East. The shift was muted but real. Trump picked up 3,000 votes in the city and third-party candidate votes swelled to 20% of the overall vote. Many did not vote for a candidate at all. Trump won Michigan — and the presidency — for the second time in three attempts. In Dearborn, nearly half of its 110,000 residents are of Arab descent and the largest Arab nationalities represented are from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq. Many Yemeni Americans in the metro Detroit area voted for Trump in the 2024 election after his vows for peace, which came at a time of widespread conflict and instability in the Middle East, Altahif said. In Yemen, a near decade-long civil war has pushed its population to the brink of famine. In Trump's first months in office, the U.S. bombed Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen in a two-month long campaign that ended with a ceasefire agreement in May. 'Every single family of Yemeni descendant is affected by the war in Yemen,' Altahif said. 'And we were hopeful based on Trump's promise that he was going to end the war.' Rasheed Alnozili, publisher of the Dearborn-based online and print news services the Yemeni American News, said the travel ban will only stigmatize Yemeni and Arab communities in America and fuel Islamophobia, not counter terrorism. 'They are part of the society, they are raising their kids,' he said of Yemeni communities. There are exceptions to the ban. They include green-card holders and people with U.S. family members who apply for visas in connection to their spouses, children or parents. Altahif expects the ban to make it much harder for families separated by the distance to reunite. He said it took his wife from Yemen five years to get a visa approved before coming to live in the U.S. in 2024. Widespread unease Many in the community are reluctant to talk openly about the new travel restrictions for fear of retaliation, even if they are U.S. citizens or green-card holders. Others are reluctant to leave the country for fear of being held up by border agents when returning home, something Arab and Muslim Americans already report dealing with at airports. Amir Makled, a Dearborn-based civil rights attorney, said the restrictions have been 'similarly chilling' for Muslim travelers compared to the 2017 policy. He's received several calls from people worried about being detained when traveling back to the U.S., even if they are citizens or lawful residents. One person of Yemeni descent ultimately canceled travel for the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a pillar of Islamic faith, Makled said. 'People overall are opting not to travel, even when they have a legal right to do so,' he said. Both major political parties will have to appeal to the Arab and Muslim communities in the Detroit area in key upcoming races in 2026. With open races for the governor's office and a U.S. Senate seat, a few thousand votes could tip the balance of power in Lansing and in Congress. 'Where these voters land is going to, I think, make a difference in terms of who ends up in those seats,' said Peter Trumbore, chair of the department of political science at Oakland University. The war in Gaza drove Yemeni Americans away from the Democratic Party, Altahif said, and Trump has not made good on his promise to quickly bring an end to the Israel-Hamas war which has resulted in the deaths of more than 55,000 Palestinians. Altahif noted state Democrats who have vocally opposed the travel ban, but said he has not seen Republicans do the same. Osama Siblani, publisher of the Dearborn-based Arab American News, said candidates from both parties who are running for governor and the U.S. Senate have met with him in recent months as the 2026 midterm races start. He also met with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a longtime Democrat who is running as an independent for the governor's office. Siblani called the travel ban a 'racist' executive action that does nothing to help people in war-torn Yemen and Sudan, nations where many metro Detroit residents have relatives. But their disappointment in both Democrats and Republicans may leave them looking for a third option. 'I can see that there is an appetite in our community or a need in our communities to vote for an independent,' Siblani said. ___ Associated Press video journalist Mike Housholder contributed to this report.
