Monthly Archives: May 2025

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‘Habemos Papam’

Pope Leo XIV

And with those two words, Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Dominique François Joseph Mamberti, announced from the balcony of St Peter’s in Rome (on the afternoon of 8 May 2025) that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (right, a dual US-Peruvian citizen, born in Chicago) had been elected as the new pope, taking the name Leo XIV, less than three weeks after the death of Pope Francis. Leo XIV is the 267th occupant of the Holy See stretching back 2000 years.

He is the first English-speaking pope since Adrian IV (c. 1100-(1154)-1159), born Nicholas Breakspear in England (who probably spoke French for much of his life).

During my lifetime, there have been eight popes . . . so far. And given his relatively young age (69, and in seemingly good health, as a keen tennis player), Leo XIV will probably outlast me.

L-R: Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI,  and John Paul I

L-R: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.

I was baptised a Catholic, probably in early 1949 (having been born in November 1948), but didn’t attend a Catholic school until my family moved to Leek in April 1956. Then, my elder brother Edgar and I moved to St Mary’s primary school where we were taught by nuns of the Sisters of Loreto order (and some lay teachers as well).

I went through a phase of religious commitment for a few years, but by the time I’d left high school in June 1967, I had—as they say—’lost my faith’. And ever since I’ve been a contented atheist verging on agnostic. I say this because I don’t think I can entirely escape my early religious upbringing/indoctrination.

In my formative years, with Sunday Mass and other religious observations, reverence for the Pope was just accepted as part of being a Catholic.

But what this recent Conclave has illustrated, once again, is just how anticipated and newsworthy the election of a pope is worldwide, for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. And immediately, Leo XIV’s face has become one of the most recognisable.

In the immediate aftermath of his election, much has been written and spoken about this new pope, his origins, ministry, and beliefs. He’s the first pope from the USA, and the second from the Americas. Indeed it was often thought that the election of a pope from the USA could never happen given the potential geopolitical ramifications. He became a naturalised Peruvian citizen after spending many years in that country, latterly as Bishop of Chiclayo, and was made a cardinal by Pope Francis just two years ago. He took a degree in mathematics, and is the first Augustinian (OSA) pope.

The choice of his papal name is also significant. His nominal predecessor, Leo XIII (1810-(1878)-1903) published the encyclical Rerum novarum (Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor), a foundation of Catholic social teaching. And surely this choice of name indicates that Leo XIV will speak out in support of the poor, the disadvantaged. It seems he is not shy of speaking truth to power, as evidenced by a recent put down of US Vice-President JD Vance (a convert to Catholicism) and other commentaries on the policies enacted by the Trump administration. He’ll continue to have moral authority of taking on the likes of Trump, provided he also confronts, head on, the worst excesses and abuses (particularly the sexual abuses perpetrated by clergy) of the Church.

Not all Catholics are happy at the outcome of the Conclave. In the USA for example there is a not insignificant traditionalist arm of the church who are not likely to welcome Leo’s continuation (perhaps expansion even) of the social and inclusive legacy left by Pope Francis.

And some have even been outspoken about Leo’s election. Take alt-right political activist, Trump acolyte and apologist Steve Bannon (himself a Catholic apparently) for instance.

Just take a look (in the first minute or so of this video) at his egregiously offensive and outrageously conspiratorial commentary, condemning the Conclave as ‘rigged’, because Prevost was considered anti-Trump. How preposterous!

 

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Trust in the landscape . . .

Regular readers of my blog will know that I often write about visits that Steph and I have made to National Trust properties since we became members in 2011. Most of these visits have been to the grand (and not-so-grand) houses that the Trust owns, like Cragside in Northumberland, Belton House in Lincolnshire, Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, and Kingston Lacy in Dorset to mention just four of the grandest that we have visited (clockwise from top left).

The National Trust manages >600 properties across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. But I guess that many overseas readers may not realise that the National Trust is also one of the largest landowners in the United Kingdom, with almost 250,000 hectares of farm land and 780 miles (1,260 km) of coast.

Besides properties like Cragside, Seaton Delaval Hall, Washington Old Hall, Crook Hall Gardens, and Souter Lighthouse here in the northeast of England, the Trust also manages large stretches of the Northumberland and Durham coasts (including the Farne Islands), Penshaw Monument, Hadrian’s Wall, and where we were last week, Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, just 10 miles west of Hexham off the A69 (which connects Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle).

Allen Banks (and Staward Gorge) is a deep valley of the River Allen, that flows north from the Pennine uplands, to join the River South Tyne less than half a mile away. Close by is Ridley Hall, originally a 16th century property that has been redeveloped several times over the centuries, and the building standing there today dates from the mid-18th century and the late Victorian period. Ridley Hall is now a residential and conference center.

Allen Banks was part of the Ridley Hall estate, and it was in the early 19th century that Susan Davidson (nee Jessup, and daughter of the 9th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and a family link to another National Trust property, Gibside in Co. Durham) laid out the paths and trails along the river. Today, Allen Banks comprises some 250 ha of ancient semi-natural woodland that is a haven for wildlife, and is noted in Spring for its carpets of bluebells and wild garlic or ramsons (Allium ursinum).

Our walk (the orange and brown trails on this map) last week south from the car park (which used to be the walled garden of Ridley Hall) was along the west bank of the River Allen. There has been little rain for the past few weeks so the river was running quite low. Just beyond the car park there’s a fairly steep but short climb and thereafter until we reached Plankey Mill beside the river, the footpath runs more or less along the flat, with just a few moderate inclines. It was around 4 miles in total, as we came back to the car park along the same route.

But what a joy to be wandering through these woods in the late Spring just as all the magnificent beech trees were coming into leaf.

There’s a sturdy bridge across the Allen at Plankey Mill, and there we sat and watched a dipper scurrying among the rocks.

We first visited Allen Banks in the middle of October 2022, and took the footpaths on the eastern bank to reach Morralee Tarn (the purple route on the map). it’s quite steep in places, and we did lose our way since we didn’t have the map with us, and assumed the tarn would be at the top of the rise. In fact it’s half way up. I don’t recall seeing any signposts, although once we encountered the path it was clear which way we should have been headed.

Once back at the car park last week, we enjoyed a picnic in the shade of one of the beeches, before setting off on the A69 back to Newcastle. It’s certainly an easy excursion to Allen Banks. The car park holds about 30 years, and non-members of the National Trust must pay a parking fee. There is also a toilet on site.

Allen Banks – well worth a visit.