Latest news with #Breakspear
BBC News
25-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Why is Britain's only Pope not better known?
Tens of thousands of people have descended on Vatican City to pay their respects to Pope Francis, whose funeral will be held this Saturday. But despite the global focus on events in Rome, few realise that England once produced a Breakspear reigned in the mid‑12th Century, taking the name Pope Adrian IV, and is still the only Briton to hold the his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Bedmond, Hertfordshire, to its highest office, his story remains one of the Catholic Church's most extraordinary - and least known. "Breakspear was a young, impoverished lad from England, with no family connections, no money, and it was quite remarkable that he ended up as Pope by the time he was 50," explains his biographer, Adrian start in life was anything but remarkable, was born around 1100 in Bedmond, in the parish of Abbots Langley, near Watford, the son of a minor cleric at St Albans is some debate as to whether or not Breakspear's father was married, leading some to believe the future Pope may have been sought to follow in his father's footsteps and enter the abbey, but was refused, perhaps because of his lack of he went to France to study before joining a monastery where he advanced to become an abbot. According to Waddingham, a large focus of Breakspear's work prior to becoming Pope took place in Scandinavia, where he created the first ever Archdiocese of Norway, giving it independence from the church in Germany. "He is very well remembered in Norway - probably better remembered there than he is here," he he returned from Scandinavia in 1154, Breakspear became the 170th Pope following the death of Pope Eugenius III, remaining in the post until his death in was his close association with Norway, the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters placed an inscribed plaque next to his tomb in St Peter's Basilica. In and around Abbots Langley, there are subtle reminders about its distinguished former resident. Streets such as Popes Road, Adrian Road, and Breakspear Road all pay tribute, as does a secondary school in nearby St Albans."Our school is named after a man who proved that no dream is too great; no origin too small," says Declan Linnane, head teacher of Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School."Although as a school we continue to promote the values of Nicholas Breakspear, it would be great to see more done nationally to recognise and celebrate the life of England's only Pope." Each year, students and staff make a pilgrimage to Rome to visit his tomb."His story of faith, perseverance, and leadership is one that still speaks powerfully to young people today," says Mr Linnane. However, some feel the only English Pope is not celebrated as much as he ought to Richard Mway is parish priest at St Saviour's in Abbots Langley, whose Catholic church has a stone bust and portrait of Breakspear in a small caged porch by its that, though, there is nothing, he says. "We don't have a little museum or something... we could have a little bit more for people to learn."Even nationally, we don't talk about [him] much."Waddingham agrees."He is ignored. You will not find anywhere in our capital city - even in Westminster Cathedral - a monument or statue to the only English Pope. He is not remembered," he says. In Bedmond, a small stone plaque, flanked by a plastic black flowerpot beside the main road, marks the birthplace of arguably Hertfordshire's most famous son. Only if you were told it was there would you notice it, says Fr Baker, treasurer of Abbots Langley Local History Society, admits more could be done with the "modest and unworthy" plaque. "A more substantial memorial has been suggested from time to time; however, funding, maintaining and resourcing [a] suggested museum would be a huge commitment," he says. Fr Mway says he tries his best to keep the memory of Breakspear alive, but admits even some members of his own congregation may have no idea of the parish's historical relevance to Rome. "I would say 60% may know who he is," he why has history quietly forgotten Nicholas Breakspear? The answer may be found in the period he reigned."He chose a bad time to be Pope," says Waddingham. "In 1154, he was threatened on three sides by powerful forces: Frederick Barbarossa in the North; King William of Sicily in the south; and, if that weren't enough, the Byzantine emperor was trying to re-establish his territories on the Adriatic coast of Italy," he author believes the history of the time is dominated by the Holy Roman Emperor Barbarossa, "which is perhaps why we know so little about Adrian - he was belittled by the German historians".This sentiment was captured centuries ago by historian Edward Gibbon, best known for his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, published 1776-89: "The English reader may consult the Biographia Britannica, ADRIAN IV., but our own writers have added nothing to the fame or merits of their countryman," he Breakspear's life story is inspiring to those who know of him, especially those who worship in the church most commonly associated with him. A tablet commemorating Breakspear is proudly displayed on the wall of the Church of St Lawrence the Martyr in Abbots Dr Thomas Betteridge says he should be more widely celebrated."He transcended the limitations of class and education in a deeply hierarchical culture in order to become Pope. That, in itself, should warrant more importance being placed on his life story," he says. White smoke, announcing the election of a new pontiff, may not billow above the Sistine Chapel for several days while the identity of Pope Francis's successor remains uncertain, one outcome is almost assured: the next Pope is highly unlikely to be College of Cardinals presently includes four Britons (Vincent Nichols, Michael Fitzgerald, Arthur Roche and Timothy Radcliffe), three of whom are young enough to cast a vote in the conclave. None is regarded as a frontrunner for the papacy, yet history shows that unexpected choices can and do emerge from the conclave's closed doors."Well, anything is possible – and we know from recent conclaves that favourites don't seem to be elected," explains Waddingham."Even if we were to get an English Pope, it's unlikely he would be elected unanimously on the first ballot, which was a remarkable achievement of Nicholas Breakspear in 1154."Fr Mway says: "I pray just to have another good Pope, another good Father and another good pastor to help us to pray to strengthen our relationship with Jesus."I don't mind the country, personally." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
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!'.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
