Archbishop Paul Gallagher in 2018. / Bundesministerium für Europa, Integration und Äußeres via Wikimedia (CC BY 2.0).
Archbishop Paul Gallagher, a seasoned Vatican diplomat, will represent Pope Francis at the burial of Queen Elizabeth II, Holy See communications office director Matteo Bruni said on Friday.
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning queen in British history, passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8 at the age of 96. She was the titular leader of the Church of England, which split from the Catholic Church in the 16th century.
On September 19, the queen’s funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey in London.
Archbishop Gallagher has served as the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations since 2014. In the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, his latest work has included a fact-finding visit to Ukraine.
Gallagher, 68 years old, is a British citizen. He was born and educated in Liverpool, where he attended St. Francis Xavier High School.
Since 1984, he has been in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. His lengthy diplomatic career includes service from 2012 to 2014 as apostolic nuncio to Australia, a Commonwealth nation.
Pope John Paul II designated him Special Envoy in charge of the Permanent Observer Mission to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in 2000. In addition, he has served as an apostolic nuncio to Burundi and Guatemala.
In March of 2004, he was consecrated as an archbishop. He is the titular archbishop of the defunct Scottish Catholic diocese of Hodelm.
Gallagher was ordained a priest in 1977 by Archbishop Derek Worlock of Liverpool, according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. His first appointment was as an assistant priest at Holy Name church in Liverpool’s Fazarkerley district. He served as the chaplain at Fazarkerley Hospital, now known as University Hospital Aintree, in this capacity.
The appointment of Archbishop Gallagher followed an outpouring of condolences and tributes from the pope and other Catholic bishops.
Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened” in a telegram upon learning of Queen Elizabeth’s death. He extended his condolences to King Charles III, the Royal Family, and the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
Pope Francis’ message of condolence continued: “I willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late Queen’s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises.”