What will Boris Johnson say to the Holy Father?

And what should he guard against?

Stuart Reid

Pope Francis

Catholic Church

Catholic News

Christine Rousselle

Bishop of Peoria presents Sheen relic to Pope Leo XIV

Christine Rousselle

USCCB president calls planned livestream of execution ‘barbaric’

The Catholic Herald

Ordinariate honours Newman with new statue and icon

2 min read

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson will this evening receive the Holy Father in Terminal 4’s Royal Suite at Heathrow Airport.

You couldn’t make it up. When I worked for Boris at the Spectator I would have been prepared to believe that he might one day star opposite Jennifer Aniston in a Hollywood romcom, but never that he would end up as the politician charged with welcoming the Pope to England.

But is it really so surprising, so inappropriate? Boris is a Catholic, after all. True he is not quite what the newspapers call a “devout Catholic” – by which they mean anyone who has been to Mass more than twice in the past year - but he was baptised according to the rites of Holy Mother Church.

5freearticles every month

Continue reading with a free account. No card needed.

Five free articles every thirty days, on any device you sign in on
The Catholic Herald newsletter, every morning
Subscribe whenever you like for everything: every article and the magazine

Create free account See our subscription offers

subscribe to the catholic herald today

Our best content is exclusively available to our subscribers. Subscribe today and gain instant access to expert analysis, in-depth articles, and thought-provoking insights—anytime, anywhere. Don’t miss out on the conversations that matter most.