I am obsessed with learning about the gift-giving practices of world leaders and politicians. I don’t mean that I’m interested in it in a “look at that corruption” sort of way. I just find it intriguing to learn what kind of gifts are given and who is an inventive gift-giver. I was enchanted by the stories last December about the Senate’s Secret Santa and which senators gave interesting gifts to other senators. Senator Orrin Hatch? Awful gift-giver (he gave Liz Warren coffee and donuts). Senator Joe Manchin? Awesome gift-giver (he gave Marco Rubio an elephant made of coal).
So, imagine my delight at learning what gifts the new pope, Pope Francis, was giving and receiving from world leaders. When Pope Francis met Pres. Obama, Obama gave him a small chest full of seeds from the White House garden. The actual chest was “made from American leather and wood reclaimed from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the oldest Catholic cathedrals built in the United States.” Very thoughtful. Francis gave Obama “two medallions, one of which was a symbol of the need for solidarity and peace between the two hemispheres.” He also gave Obama “a copy of Evangelii Gaudium, or ‘The Joy of the Gospel,’ a 2013 apostolic exhortation from Francis to Catholics that laid out his vision for the Church.” I kind of think Obama put more time into his gift.
But all of that pales in comparison to what went down in Vatican City yesterday. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrived in Rome, and then traveled to the Vatican. When the Queen met Pope Francis, she gave him… WHISKEY.
Pope Francis gave Queen Elizabeth a present today for her great-grandson, Prince George, and the queen reciprocated with a hamper of food – that included a bottle of whiskey. The exchange took place in a brief and informal 30 minute audience at the Vatican today. The queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was on the ground in Italy for less than five hours before returning to the United Kingdom on a private jet.
It was the first time Queen Elizabeth met Pope Francis and she took with her on the plane home a gift for the royal grandson. Pope Francis handed the queen a precious stone globe with a cross on it for Prince George, who is about to depart on his first overseas trip to Australia and New Zealand.
The queen was given an antique parchment, which dates back to May 1679 with an “Urbi et Orbi” message by Cardinal Cesare Facchinetti. The pope traditionally gives a “urbi et orbi” message – meaning “to the city and the world” – at Easter and Christmas.
The queen gave the pope a hamper of what the Vatican said was “jams and drinks” produced on lands owned by the royal family. One of the drinks was a bottle of whiskey from Balmoral.
This is the fifth time Queen Elizabeth II has met a pope in Rome, but this was her most informal visit ever. She wore no black veil, instead a lilac outfit and matching hat. By mutual request the visit was relaxed and “protocol-light,” taking place in the pope’s study inside the 1970’s built Paul VI Hall, close to where he lives at the Vatican. The protocols of this visit are markedly different to a state visit, which would normally see such a meeting take place inside the Apostolic Palace.
The only people present for this meeting were Pope Francis, Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh and a translator. Pope Francis speaks only “passing English” and is understood to have communicated via a translator.
The meeting with Pope Francis marks the 100th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See. Historically though, the Church of England has difficult relations with the Vatican, as a break-away from the Roman Catholic Church.
So, Queen Elizabeth received a precious stone globe (for George) and a fragile parchment. And she gave the Pope whiskey and some muffins? On this exchange, I’d say the Queen looked a little bit cheap and the Pope seemed more generous. It must be tough to gauge these kinds of high-level gift exchanges.
All that being said, I wish the Queen would give me a bottle of whiskey.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Oh, Kaiser, I’d take the whiskey and food and run with it, baby.
Not sure what PGTips will do with the orb. Maybe gaze into it?
Drool on it most likely. And then cut his gum on a sticking out piece of metal.
He could always drop it on someone’s feet or ruin some precious wooden floor…
Isn’t good whiskey pricey, sometimes? I’m sure it came with instructions “never to be used with ice cubes”. Maybe she knew Francis liked to kick a few back, who knows?
Heck yes, good whiskey can be very expensive. My brother loves the stuff and he’s always shaking his head about how much it costs…and the bottles he gets aren’t from Balmoral, hahahaha.
Bushmills 4ever!
Whisky is from Scotland. I write this with full authority as it is my favourite tipple.
Yes!
Someone who cares!! Finally!!
Although, there is none better than the Queen to represent for the great Scottish creation. I don’t know who’ll take claim for the muffins, though… or the jams. Maybe that would be authentically British?
I don’t know!! But since it is Friday. Tonight, I’m gonna get some cheap whiskey, and make myself believe I’m the Pope sitting by a holy fireplace or something, on a throne, wearing the finest Italian cloths made by Franciscan monks contemplating what men of his stature may contemplate… (when in actual fact I will be in my Walmart pjs in my tiny bedroom, sitting infront of my tv. contemplating how good the movie is getting the drunker I get!!)
I like the way you think, cheesecake. Let us know your plans for world peace after, let’s say, your third or fourth dram. 🙂
Lol! He doesn’t seem the type to be decked out in fine clothes though. I wonder if he’ll donate the jams and food to local shelters and keep the whiskey.
I have friends who vacationed in Scotland with the sole purpose of visiting the different distilleries and are very particular about which Scotch they will purchase and imbibe.
That’s *exactly* what my brother would do.
In fact, a few Christmas’s back, he decided that it was high time his niece and nephew learned how to properly drink scotch whiskey. FYI they were 11 and 13 (respectively) at the time. 🙂
I decided it was time for them to quit when my daughter said, ‘Mama, my tummy is getting upset and my head feels funny.’
When I was teen, my dad worked as a sales manager for a scotch that was being rolled out in the US. We got to go to Scotland for a vacation, drove the Whiskey Trail, and got a private tour of the distillery. I was 19 and thought all hard alcohol was disgusting unless it was in a fruity drink. I wish I could go now!
@Meerkat
Not exactly, Scotch is from Scotland but not all whiskey in Scotland is Scotch. Other countries make their own various whiskies. Ex. Irish Whiskey (it ain’t all about Guinness there lol), in US there are whiskeys but then there are also Bourbons which have to be distilled and aged a certain way in order to be considered Bourbon, still a whiskey though, Canada, Japan etc…Like Champagne is only from Champagne, France otherwise it’s sparkling wine but made with champagne grapes.
Sorry for the paragraph but I’m a foodie. 😀
@cheesecake LOL
PS It’s 930 am here. Is it too early to open a bottle?
I actually think her gift was cool. I mean it’s something he can actually enjoy; not something he can only look at a couple of times then stick in a drawer.
And her gift is from the UK — so it’s thoughtful and representative.
BTW never underestimate a good bottle of whiskey.
Don’t the RF give each other this type of gift for Christmas – homemade jams, etc., rather than extravagant things? I read that somewhere. I thought it was a nice gift, too, including the whiskey.
GoodNames,
Some do but a lot are gag gifts.
Plus the honey was from bees from her backyard, and all the foodstuff was local/organically grown.
I loved it, I would take that over a random stone orb in a heart beat.
Ostentatious gift-giving is regarded as very non-U. Expect suitability from ER, not expense.
‘Non-U’? What’s dat?
On my phone and can’t do links. Quickest if you look up U and non-U on Wikipedia!
Will do.
🙂
**ETA**
Too funny.
‘Non U’= None Upperclass
Funny AND telling!
Debritts even has a blip about it!!!
Middleton signet rings? Non-U. Y’dig?! ;?
I do. I do.
Hehe
The most awkward gift exchange I’ve ever read was when Gordon Brown came to the US to visit Obama and got a movie DVD set — that couldn’t be played on UK DVD players — and Brown gave Obama a pen holder made from the wood of an anti slavery campaign ship, a nod to Obama’s interest in Lincoln. I thought it a really thoughtful gift, and I think the Obamas have upped their game since then!!
LOL
Obama gave Spain´s president a box of m&m´s …talk about cheap…although the guys is doing a poor job and is running the country to the ground, I couldn´t but shake my head…considering he gave Obama a replica of a manuscript from the 1600´s
Kind of domestic too, fuel for the body. I like.
Anthropologically speaking, gift-giving is a highly significant practice. Marcel Mauss wrote a classic study of the practice of gift-giving: “The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies”.
It is thoughtful, of course. It contained many things which gave the Queen the chance tl make it British, including stuff from different parts of Britain. There were most probably more kinds of whiskey, scotch, etc. A very thoughtful and diplomatic and represeentative gift indeed.
I love this stuff, too! Especially between royals – the gift giving can be really outlandish!
Speaking of Secret Santa – I once worked at a very elite East Coast boarding school and we did a staff-wide Secret Santa. Everyone was getting little thoughtful gifts and I kept getting things like used coffee cups or a half eaten banana. I did get a great pair of gloves at the end, but I was irked that my Santa thought this was White Elephant – turns out it was the Headmaster – it did not improve my opinion of him as an idiot at all.
Ahahaha that’s ACTUALLY awful. At least you got some gloves out of it, I guess. Still, what a pain in the ass.
I’ve had secret Santa’s where all the gifts are recycled, regifting or gag.
But seriously? How long does ot take to detour to the nearest smelly soap store and buy some bath salts? You know; the gift you give when you have no idea what to buy.
Impersonal smelly stuff is way better than some junk from your junk drawer.
I thought candles were the universal default gift. I have gotten so many candles as a Secret Santa gift that I have stopped participating. I am not into candles and I generally drop a few hints to that effect around the holidays, to no avail.
And I’ve heard the Balmoral whiskey is scrumptious. Peat-y and smoky and all the things a good tipple should be.
Is it wrong that I (as lapsed a Catholic as one can be) find Pope Francis growing on me?
No, it’s not wrong. Pope Francis is growing on me, too and other than weddings and funerals I haven’t been involved with the Church in years. He’s a like able guy.
I’m a former Catholic and I love this guy.
+1
I am a big fan, too. 🙂
His personality is very likeable. From what I’ve heard of his theology… not so much.
Most faiths hold the belief that there’s is correct and the only/right way. I read an article on this site thay said that essentiall said that the Pope believed that good deeds would get you into heaven.
Which is actually the opposite according to Christianity.
I’m not trying to offend anyone, I love that Celebitchy has readers that are so varied. But I just think that the leader of a Catholic Church should believe in the most basic tenant of his faith.
(And if I am mistaken I am happy to be wrong :-))
I’m not Catholic but have attended two Catholic Universities and Catholics (despite the name) have a fairly wide span of opinions on faith. There are tenets they all agree on but many respect variance while other groups are definitely less tolerant. Basically, most Catholics have a range of beliefs that are still considered ‘acceptable’.
I’m catholic and was always taught that you must do good works to get into heaven. Unlike just accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior–obviously an important tenet–you must combine it with living a good life or you’ll be in Purgatory a long time. 🙂 I actually enjoy that aspect rather than just proclaiming ‘ I believe’.
I’d heard only great things about him until today. He had a private meeting with the Green family. They are the billionaire owners of Hobby Lobby who are fighting the Obamacare contraception mandate. The pope specifically asked how the case was going. Really turned me off.
Not to highjack the site with a theology lesson, but Catholics take the Letter of James very seriously. James talks quite strongly that faith without works is empty and meaningless. You are justified by both faith and works, not by faith alone.
I am a Catholic who grew up in the south and have had this discussion many times. I am always fascinated that people who tell me Catholics are bad because they don’t spend enough time reading scripture always try to hand-wave James when I quote him to them on this topic.
Exactly, Carol. We are not sola fide like Protestants. Nor sola scriptura.
In my experience, Catholics tend to be much more open minded that other Christians ( I am a very left liberal Catholic who supports gay rights and has many friends who are atheists or of other religions. So are people in my family and the majority of people I know)
Peaty and smoky are most definitely acquired tastes and not the norm. $hit tastes like bongwater.
I’m Protestant and I find him lovely.
Since she gave him Scotch, you should be spelling it WHISKY.
Yes this North of the border it’s WHISKY, across the Irish Sea it’s WHISKEY. A minor pet peave of mine
Irish whiskey, Scotch whisky. And, I think, generically whisky everywhere save the US.
I didn’t know that. Interesting, thanks.
(That probably explains why I couldn’t tell the difference between Scotch and whiskey, right??? lol Here I thought it was just me being dumb!)
I’m with GoodNames, I didn’t know or didn’t remember (my brother may have told me).
So thanks.
Kaiser,
No shading good spirits — like *ever*! A good bottle of whiskey is hard to come by.
You should go stand in a corner and reflect on your deeds and words. But not too long — especially if you’re gonna dish on some delish news…
😉
Yes!!
Ladyslippers, you are Neo, you are ‘The One’. Period!
( I was reading your comments of the Franco stuff and nodding my head a-plenty) Hats off to you!!
But let me just say, in the immortal words of Fassbender’s character in Inglorious basterds…
“There’s a special spot in hell for people who waste good whiskey.”
Kaiser,
three hail mary’s will do!! 😉
Why Thank you cheesecake!
And that’s a fantastic quote.
😀
(And if Kaiser errs again she’ll need to repent a lot more than just three Hail Mary’s)
Love the Queen in lavender and love her hat.
I love it when her whole face lights up!!!
I want to see these pictures of her in a black veil! Sounds… badass somehow.
DM has the pics.
🙂
You can find a lot on google. Princess Diana as well.
I don’t even know what to buy for my best friend’s bday let alone something for the Pope or the Queen!
Can you imagine the pressure to find a gift for them??
They both have people for that.
Surely you do too????
😉
No.. actually as much as I hate buying things is something I have to do myself! And everyt time it drives me crazy!
I know they have people for that.. I really don’t envy their job!
Hey LadySlippers! How was the marathon?
No, it wasn’t me that runs marathons. lol
I was just envious of those that do!
My daughter is fantastic at picking gifts, so I let her do it.
Oh my, So sorry! I had you confused.. well it’s never too late to start! 🙂
No worries!!!
And it isn’t too late…. Gotta get the migraines under control and then I’ll tackle the world.
She was fifteen minutes late. So classy
She was having lunch with the Italian president and apologised on arrival. Wish I had that excuse when I was late to class this morning
In her defense, she was half and hour late.
A queen is never late. Everyone else is simply early.
I want her bonnet.
I like the Queen’s sense of humor. I wouldn’t have the guts to give the pope alcohol, even though I’d love to kick back a shot with him.
She also cracked a joke when presented the orb “Well George will certainly like this very much someday.”
Seriously, a stone orb with jewels for a baby? Really?
I joked about that as well, upthread.
The thing is it is actually a great gift for a future ruler. Anything baby-related he will have or grow out of in a blink.
(ETA: Its a great gift if you think the royal family will stick around that long. I personally wouldn’t bet against them.)
Why not give him alcohol? He drinks consecrated wine during mass. 😀 I bought a used book that had the name of the former owner in it. It was a local, well known priest who has passed away years ago. He had made notes in the margins of the book while he read. When he came to a part in the story about using beer to wash hair, he noted “What a waste!”
I am sure the Queen’s protocol people checked first before they put the whiskey in the basket. The Catholic religion does not prohibit drinking alcohol, and the Pope (or someone who knows his preferences) may have known he would not mind a wee dram now and again.
I think Obama’s present was the best and most thoughtful.
Even better about President Obama’s gift, my understanding is that the US will now send seeds comparable to one million crops to a charity of Pope Francis’ choosing. Well done!
This post should be called “When rich people visit each other.”
Hahaha
Philippe looks great!!
I think that was a very thoughytful gift. Since Francis has given up so much of the papal extras, he obviously does not care for them, so he would not be impressed by by medals, watches, paintings etc. But as a living man he still needs to eat, so he can enjoy some honey from Sandringham or a dram. Or share them with the poor.
I read somewhere he’s sharing. 🙂
On a completely different note, I love that we have a Royal post that doesn’t feature The Holy Trinity of British Royals (William, Kate, and Harry).
It’s been fun to see entirely *new* topics to discuss. And equally fun seeing a different range of opinions from people.
Thank you Kaiser and thank you fellow commenters!
😀
I’m just watching the early evening news and Anne is weighing in on: for a badger cull, for GM crops and eating horsemeat being beneficial to animal welfare. All HIGHLY contentious in the UK. Especially where I live.
Ugh.
It’s kinda a hot button topic here. GM foods and culling in general but not horse meat though.
May I add Cressida? I know she’s not a royal, but she guest stars on a lot of their posts.
Actually, I don’t think the Queen was cheap. Whiskey can be very expensive, and since it is Lent in the Caholic Church and Pope Francis has been cutting costs and extravagance within the Church, a humble but enjoyable gift seems spot on. He can indulge on Sundays (when average Catholics lift the Lenten bans; can’t speak for the Pope though). I think her gift was appropriate given the circumstances.
That’s a good gift for me, but what an old boozer, hahaha.
Let’s not forget that the Pope is argentinian -so am I- and our country has had a rivalry with England for a long time; starting with two attempts of colonization (women fought them by throwing boiling water from the windows. We learn it in school), an “ilegall” war (our territories, fought while our country was under a dictartorship) and of course, a soccer match (a World Cup final, wich we won by cheating). The whole thing with the taken islands -they call them Faulkland, we Malvinas- is ’till this day debated in the UN, and to make it short, even though this territories were blatanly stolen without regard to international law, becouse the UK is part of the UN top countries the institution does nothing more than saying “its wrong, they sould returned them”. Anyways, we all know the UN is useless. So, recaping; our president has asked the pope to intercede and of course he said he will. I think that this has played a role in this meeting, why else would he look sooo uncomfortable in the first pic, if he’s always smiling in every picture. It’s a snub to the queen.
Thank you! So true – all sorts of interesting sub-texts going on. Thanks for the insight to the Argentinian POV too. I’ve only ever heard the British side until now.
Since the beverage was made in Scotland it’s called whisky. From Ireland and the rest of the world it would be whiskey.
John Betjeman’s poem “How To Get On In Society” is a wonderful, snooty example of the use of non u English. His daughter socialises with Charles and Camilla…..shared interests in religious architecture and the like.
I think her gift was more personal. I’m sure the pope could use a drink at the end of the day…