The Friends of the Holy Father - Fourth decade
In 2011 the pilgrimage was to Constantinople – Istanbul - to see the remains of the imperial city created by Constantine the Great and to venerate the relics of two of the early Fathers of the Eastern Church – St Gregory of Nanzianzus and St. John Chrysostom. Also encountered were places associated with Popes with connections with the city, including Popes Gregory the Great, Pius XI, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XV.
2012 saw the Friends pilgrimage to Milan were the themes of the pilgrimage were St Gregory the Great and the Lombards, St Ambrose and St Augustine (of Hippo) in Milan, and Blessed John XXIII on the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. The 2013 pilgrimage was in London visiting Lambeth Palace, the Charterhouse, the cells of St Thomas More and St John Fisher in the Tower of London, Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey on St Edward's Day.
In 2014 the annual pilgrimage took us to Rome and Assisi and to places associated with St Francis. The Friends also attended a general audience of Pope Francis.
In 2015 the annual pilgrimage took us to Bologna, Padua and Ravenna in honour of St Apollinaris, St Dominic and St Anthony of Padua, led by Father Guy Sawyer. Our Chairman, John Dean attended the Mayors' Conference on human trafficking in the Vatican.
In 2016 there was no annual pilgrimage. The Friends entertained the new Ambassador to the Holy See, Mrs Sally Axworthy MBE to a reception in June.
In 2017 the annual pilgrimage was to Rome led by Father Guy Sawyer and Dr Michael Straiton.
In 2019 the Friends hosted a reception at the Apostolic Nunciature with kind permission from Archbishop Edward Adams.
2012 saw the Friends pilgrimage to Milan were the themes of the pilgrimage were St Gregory the Great and the Lombards, St Ambrose and St Augustine (of Hippo) in Milan, and Blessed John XXIII on the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. The 2013 pilgrimage was in London visiting Lambeth Palace, the Charterhouse, the cells of St Thomas More and St John Fisher in the Tower of London, Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey on St Edward's Day.
In 2014 the annual pilgrimage took us to Rome and Assisi and to places associated with St Francis. The Friends also attended a general audience of Pope Francis.
In 2015 the annual pilgrimage took us to Bologna, Padua and Ravenna in honour of St Apollinaris, St Dominic and St Anthony of Padua, led by Father Guy Sawyer. Our Chairman, John Dean attended the Mayors' Conference on human trafficking in the Vatican.
In 2016 there was no annual pilgrimage. The Friends entertained the new Ambassador to the Holy See, Mrs Sally Axworthy MBE to a reception in June.
In 2017 the annual pilgrimage was to Rome led by Father Guy Sawyer and Dr Michael Straiton.
In 2019 the Friends hosted a reception at the Apostolic Nunciature with kind permission from Archbishop Edward Adams.