Pope welcomes Cambridge delegation from Order of St George the Martyr

Members of the Order of St George the Martyr travelled from Cambridge to Rome to meet with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican, last week (November 12).

The group, led by the Order’s Grand Master, Cllr Robert Dryden (Lab, Cherry Hinton), spoke of the “great honour” of having a private audience with the Pope.

During the trip, they also visited the historic grave of St George, the British Embassy in Rome and the Italian Parliament's Senate of the Republic House, the Jewish quarter of Rome and The Venerable English College, where the Order was given a tour of the historic seminary .

A spokesperson for the delegation said: “The highlight of the pilgrimage was an audience with Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square. The Order was honoured to be introduced as special guests from England, accompanied by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Christ Trott, and Simona Prete, Senior Policy and Communications Officer. Pope Francis’s impassioned message focused on global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and the pursuit of peace in conflict-torn regions like Myanmar, Palestine, and Ukraine.

“In a moment of profound significance, the Pope personally greeted Grand Master Dryden, the members of the Order, and Abdul-Kayum Arain, a friend of the Order. He received letters of appreciation and gifts from the Cambridge City Council, including contributions from MP Daniel Zeichner, Mayor Cllr Baiju Thittala, the leader of Cambridge City Council Mike Davey and the Cambridge Muslim Community. Pope Francis blessed the Order, presenting them with rosary beads to symbolise their spiritual mission.”

The group also met with Christ Trott, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Holy See, who hosted the Order at his Vatican residence and told the visitors about his work and the importance of communication between His Majesty King Charles III and the Vatican on key issues such as climate change, poverty, and the pursuit of peace in conflict zones.

The Order also visited the Italian Senate, hosted by Senatrice Gisella Natural, and the group received a private tour of the Palazzo Madama, including a rare opportunity to sit in The Aula, the chamber where Italian parliamentarians deliberate and vote.The group extended an invitation for Senatrice Naturale to visit Cambridge for a mutual exchange trip, including a tour of the British Houses of Parliament.

Cllr Dryden, Grand Master of the Order in Britain and Ireland, said: “When we were announced in St Peter’s Square, in English, as Knights of St George, a huge cheer went up. It was quite fantastic. Then, when the Pope finished his sermon, he came around with his security, the Swiss Guards, and met us. Shaking hands with the Pope is something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was a great honour for the Order to be invited to the Vatican and a special moment for me as a Roman Catholic.”

One of the Knights of the Order, Cambridge hair salon owner Piero D’Angelico, said: “Everyone had a wonderful time and it is the first time in living memory that the order has been to the Vatican.”

The Order of St. George The Martyr was founded in 1326 in Hungary and promotes the values of compassion, charity, faithfulness, and courage – encapsulated in the ethos of chivalry.

The Order raises money for charities, most recently it has been fundraising for the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), where the horses benefit the lives of more than 20,000 disabled children and adults who are given the opportunity to try riding and carriage driving, as well as therapy, fitness, skills development and opportunities for achievement