Cardinal Honours Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
6 Feb 2012

Official Diamond Jubilee portrait
of Queen Elizabeth II

The Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell was invited to give the homily at a Special Ecumenical Service to Commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to the Throne at St James' Church in Sydney.

Cardinal Pell said in light of recent natural catastrophes, violence or persecution of peoples around the world, we are helped to avoid taking our blessings for granted.

He said we cannot presume that the values and virtues we cherish will be maintained automatically and passed onto the next generation undiminished. For this, a community needs leaders who will work hard, possess a sense of duty, are able to lead wisely; and they need a community who knows the music so they can join the singing.

"The Australian system of government works well, because it regularly meets all these criteria and the Queen has also played her part well," the Cardinal said.

"This year we celebrate her sixty years of achievement, ably supported by Prince Philip. She embodies many of the values we aspire to share. She knows the duties she has inherited, the tasks she must perform as a constitutional monarch, in our case, through the Governor General and I repeat, she has done well."

Cardinal George Pell

For Cardinal Pell's full address click here

In the Queen's message to mark her 60th anniversary she said she is dedicating herself "anew to your service" and added she was deeply moved by the support shown  for her Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen, now 85, usually spends Accession Day, the day her father, George VI died in 1952 while Elizabeth was on a tour in Africa, privately. However this year she had two engagements in Norfolk.

With the Duke of Edinburg, 90, she attended a church service on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk to the delight of well-wishers despite the cold and snow.

She later visited a nearby Infant and Nursery School.

Many Jubilee Events will be held later in the year during the summer months including a flotilla of a thousand boats along the Thames and a four-day weekend holiday.

Queen Elizabeth II and
the Duke of Edingburgh

The Queen and Duke will travel widely across the UK while other members of the Royal Family will visit 15 other countries where the Queen is head of state.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will visit Australia.