Vatican City, Jun 6, 2012 / 14:46 pm
Pope Benedict XVI has written to Queen Elizabeth to congratulate her on "the happy occasion" of her Diamond Jubilee as monarch of United Kingdom.
"During the past sixty years you have offered to your subjects and to the whole world an inspiring example of dedication to duty and a commitment to maintaining the principles of freedom, justice and democracy, in keeping with a noble vision of the role of a Christian monarch," Pope Benedict said in his letter, published on June 5.
Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952 upon the death of her father King George VI. Her coronation took place the following June at Westminster Abbey in London.
To mark the 60th anniversary of her accession, a Service of Thanksgiving was held June 5 at Rome's All Saints Anglican Church. Among the many dignitaries in attendance were Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, where Queen Elizabeth is the head of state.