Holy See–United Kingdom relations

Holy See–United Kingdom relations are foreign relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom.

History

Diplomatic links between the Kingdom of England and the Holy See were established in 1479.cite web|url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/country-profiles/europe/holy-see?profile=all|title=Country Profile: Vatican City State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office|accessdate=2008-09-17] John Shirwood was the first ambassador to the Vatican, and also the first ever English ambassador to serve abroad.

The relations continued until 1534 when they were severed when Henry VIII of England split with the Roman church in order to divorce from Catherine of Aragon. (See English Reformation for more details.)

The United Kingdom did not re-establish relations until 1914. Full relations were recognised in 1982 when Pope John Paul II visited the UK.

Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom became the first ever British monarch to visit the Vatican in 1980, [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/17/newsid_3966000/3966411.stm|title=BBC ON THIS DAY | 17 | 1980: Pope welcomes Queen to the Vatican|accessdate=2008-09-17] and has made a further two state visits since, most recently in 2000.

ee also

* List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to the Holy See

References