Raising the Flag

The papal flag was raised aboard a British naval vessel for probably the first time this month to mark the official visit of Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the first apostolic nuncio in history to visit the Royal Navy. Archbishop Mennini spent two days at Portsmouth naval base at the beginning of December, accompanied by Mgr Andrew McFadden, the Royal Navy’s principal Catholic chaplain. He also spent time at sea aboard the minesweeper HMS Cattistock, which hoisted the yellow and white papal flag for the occasion.