Charles III chooses a multi-confessional ceremony for his coronation

It is a way for Charles III to display his modernity: for the first time, the non-Christian cults and the languages ​​of the four nations constituting the United Kingdom will be integrated into a coronation ceremony for a British monarch, announced on Saturday April 29 the services of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The new king will take the oath on Saturday May 6, as tradition dictates, in English, promising to “defend the faith” Protestant and to protect the Church of England. But, for the first time, representatives of the Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist religions will play an active role during the ceremony.

Once the king is crowned, they will salute him by declaring that“As neighbors in faith, we recognize the value of public service”according to elements revealed by the services of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who will preside over the ceremony. “We are united with people of all faiths and beliefs in thanksgiving and in service with you for the common good”they will say again.

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Members of the House of Lords (the upper house of Parliament) from religious minorities will also wear items without Christian significance, such as gold bracelets and the royal robe. And Rishi Sunak, the UK’s Hindu prime minister, will read from the Bible.

The languages ​​of the four nations of the United Kingdom

Charles is a devout believer, but he also has a long-standing interest in other religions. He has already said in the past that he wants to defend all the faiths present among his compatriots and not only the Anglican religion, in a country where the population is much more diverse than seventy years ago, at the time of the Queen’s coronation. Elizabeth II.

Another first during the ceremony, Charles will pray aloud, in which he will ask God in particular that he may “to be a blessing to all children, of all faiths and beliefs”. According to the palace, the coronation must reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom and, for the first time, texts will be read in the other languages ​​spoken in this country: Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic

Charles had already been the first Prince of Wales in centuries to learn Welsh, still spoken today by nearly 540,000 people. “The coronation is above all an act of Christian worship” but, “at the same time, the service contains new elements that reflect the diversity of our contemporary society”Justin Welby said in a statement.

Read also: Buckingham reveals outline of Charles III’s coronation

The World with AFP

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