The ring worn by the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Welby, was a gift presented by Pope Montigny to Archbishop Welby’s predecessor, Archbishop Ramsey in March 1966.
(Vatican News Network)Once the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby finished his interview with Vatican Radio, he 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, it had been four centuries since the Church of England had separated from the Church of Rome. Pope Paul VI, who is now a saint, made an extraordinary move in that opportunity. After carefully confirming that the Archbishop Ramsey accepted the gift, Pope Paul VI took off the bishop’s ring and put it on the fingers of the archbishop of Canterbury.
It is estimated that the Pope entrusted this consultation work to his trusted secretary, Father Pasquale Macchi, to question John Andrew, the pastor accompanying Archbishop Ramsey at the time. But the pope’s move was unexpected. He and the chief bishop of the Anglican Church 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 finger of the archbishop of Canterbury. 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 kneeled before Pope Paul VI. Father Mackey stated that the ring of power worn by Archbishop Ramsey is “a sign of respect and friendship, 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.
Link URL: www.vaticannews.cn