Europe South Asia Asia Pacific Americas Middle East Africa BBC Homepage World Service Education



Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive
Feedback
Low Graphics
Help

Wednesday, June 2, 1999 Published at 12:14 GMT 13:14 UK


UK

Queen honours dying Hume

Cardinal Hume: "Fervent wish" to receive award from Queen

Cardinal Basil Hume, who has terminal cancer, has visited Buckingham Palace to receive the Order of Merit from the Queen.

He has been receiving pain-relieving treatment in hospital, but managed to visit the palace for a private audience with the Queen after the presentation.

Cardinal Hume, who is also leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales and Archbishop of Westminster, was appointed to the Order of the Merit last month.

His spokesman said it was "his fervent wish to go to the Palace to receive the award from the Queen".

Other engagement cancelled

He then went to the Archbishop's House for a brief meeting with his staff before returning to hospital.

An engagement at a flower festival, which forms part of the Corpus Christi celebrations at Arundel Cathedral, west Sussex, was cancelled on Wednesday because of Cardinal Hume's condition.

"He is following his doctors' advice as to the engagements he undertakes and he is consulting them about his future," the spokesman said.

"His condition is comfortable, but he has a terminal illness which is inevitably restricting him."


[ image: The Queen presenting the award to Nelson Mandela in 1995]
The Queen presenting the award to Nelson Mandela in 1995
The Cardinal, 76, broke the news of his illness in April when he wrote to all of his clergy.

"I have cancer and it is not in its early stages," he wrote. "I intend to carry on working as much and as long as I can."

Appointments to the prestigious Order of Merit, founded in 1902 by Edward VII, are in the Sovereign's personal gift and ministerial advice is not required.

Other members include Nelson Mandela, the Duke of Edinburgh, Baroness Thatcher, Dame Joan Sutherland, Lord Jenkins of Hillhead and Sir John Gielgud.

Membership is limited in numbers, to the Sovereign and 24 members. Cardinal Hume's appointment brings the current membership of the Order to 21 and is the 161st appointment since its foundation.





Advanced options | Search tips




Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage |


UK Contents

Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
England

Relevant Stories

02 Jun 99�|�UK
Order of Merit for ailing cardinal

18 Apr 99�|�UK
Country prays for Catholic leader

17 Apr 99�|�UK
Cardinal Hume: A life of devotion

17 Apr 99�|�UK
Catholic leader fights cancer





Internet Links


Cardinal Basil Hume

The Catholic Church in England and Wales


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.




In this section

Next steps for peace

Blairs' surprise over baby

Bowled over by Lord's

Beef row 'compromise' under fire

Hamilton 'would sell mother'

Industry misses new trains target

From Sport
Quins fightback shocks Cardiff

From Business
Vodafone takeover battle heats up

IRA ceasefire challenge rejected

Thousands celebrate Asian culture

From Sport
Christie could get two-year ban

From Entertainment
Colleagues remember Compo

Mother pleads for baby's return

Toys withdrawn in E.coli health scare

From Health
Nurses role set to expand

Israeli PM's plane in accident

More lottery cash for grassroots

Pro-lifers plan shock launch

Double killer gets life

From Health
Cold 'cure' comes one step closer

From UK Politics
Straw on trial over jury reform

Tatchell calls for rights probe into Mugabe

Ex-spy stays out in the cold

From UK Politics
Blair warns Livingstone

From Health
Smear equipment `misses cancers'

From Entertainment
Boyzone star gets in Christmas spirit

Fake bubbly warning

Murder jury hears dead girl's diary

From UK Politics
Germ warfare fiasco revealed

Blair babe triggers tabloid frenzy

Tourists shot by mistake

A new look for News Online