Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Meets With Pope Benedict XVI

The head of the Russian Imperial House, HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, arrived in Italy on December 12th for a 5-day visit. Her visit included a pilgrimage to the Russian Orthodox Church and Basilica at Bari, and a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on December 14th. The Pope told the grand duchess that he was ready to cooperate with the Russian Orthodox Church in the fight against materialism and lack of spirituality in the western world.

Alexander Zakatov, the official spokesman and chancellor of the Russian Imperial House said, "the Grand Duchess visited the Vatican with the blessing of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill, and a meeting between the Pope and Her Imperial Highness lasted about an hour and had a casual tone."

The pontiff welcomed Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and her son Grand Duke George Mikhailovich in the papal residence at the Vatican. According to Mr. Zakatov, the Grand Duchess and the Pope talked about the cooperation between Christians in the face of modern-day threats. "The head of Russian Imperial House, thanked the pope for his support in the construction of the Church of St. Catherine in Rome, and the return of the Church and Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, Italy. The church, dedicated to St Nicholas, was built in the early 20th century to welcome Russian pilgrims coming to the city to visit the 11th-century Basilica of St Nicholas, where the saint's relics lie. Bari is the most popular destination in the world for Russian orthodox pilgrims, for whom St Nicholas holds great importance.

The Pope, in turn, praised the work of the Russian Imperial House and attaches great importance to its efforts for the spiritual revival of Russia. The Pope also said that he benevolently watches what is happening in Russia, noting that “the spiritual revival of Russia is important for the world".

The first meeting of the Russian Imperial House with the head of the Roman Catholic Church took place in 1845, when Pope Gregory XVI met with the Emperor Nicholas I. The last audience between the Vatican and the House of Romanov was in 1951 when Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich and Grand Duchess Leonida Georgiyevna met with Pope Pius XII.

In memory of the meeting, the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna presented Pope Benedict XVI with a painting by artist Igor Mashkova which depicted a meeting between the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna with Pope Leo XIII that took place in 1902. His Holiness was also presented with a copy of In the Ipatiev Cellar, a book which explains the process of the rehabilitation of the last Russian emperor Nicholas II and members of his family, who were executed by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Pope, in turn, presented Maria Vladimirovna and her son with a papal rosary, and a set of commemorative medals.

The Head of the Russian Imperial House also met with top officials of the Vatican, including the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, and Bishop Vittorio Landzani. The Grand Duchess presented Cardinal Angelo Comastri, with the Imperial Order of St. Anne's of the First Degree, Bishop Vittorio Landzani, with the Order of St. Stanislaus of the First Degree, and the Reverend Joseph Marian May, professor of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, vice-director of the Vatican Observatory with the Imperial Order of St. Anne of the First Degree.

At the end of her visit, Maria Vladimirovna visited the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, where the relics of the Apostle Peter lay, and prayed in the Church of St. Catherine in Rome.

Overall, the Grand Duchess was very pleased with her visit to the Vatican. She was quoted as saying that she would carry the message to the Patriarch Kirill of the Pope's readiness to cooperate with the Russian Orthodox Church in overcoming the challenges of globalization, and the loss of moral and spiritual values in the world.

The historic 5-day visit came to an end on December 16th, the Grand Duchess Maria returned to Madrid, while her son, Grand Duke George returned to Brussels. Their visit was an important step in strenghtening ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican.

Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia

Sources: Interfax, BBC News (Russia), KOMMEPCAHT.RU

29 December, 2010