Foreign Office papal visit memo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Foreign Office papal visit memo |
|
| Created | April 2010 |
| Authors | Steven Mulvain and Anjoum Noorani |
In April 2010, something unusual happened in the United Kingdom. Two government workers from the Foreign Office wrote an internal memo (a type of official note) about Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United Kingdom. This memo contained some remarks that were seen as disrespectful to the Pope.
This incident quickly became a big news story. There was even talk, which was later denied, that the Pope might cancel his important state visit because of it. The memo was meant to be kept secret and not shared outside the office. It was described as a "brainstorm" of ideas, even some very unusual ones, for the Pope's visit.
Contents
The Disrespectful Memo
This section explains what the memo was and who was involved.
Who Wrote It?
The main person who wrote the memo was Steven Mulvain, who was 23 years old. Anjoum Noorani, who was 31, approved it to be shared within the office. It's believed that other people also helped create this memo.
What Was in the Memo?
The memo contained ideas that were described as "ill-judged, naive and disrespectful." These ideas were not meant to be official government policy. They were just part of a brainstorming session.
Government's Apology
This section covers how the British government reacted to the memo.
Leaders Speak Out
David Miliband, who was the Foreign Secretary at the time (the government minister in charge of relations with other countries), said he was "appalled" by the memo. The British government quickly apologized to the Pope and the Catholic Church.
They made it clear that the memo did not show the views of the UK government or the Foreign Office. They said it was a "foolish document." Jim Murphy, who was the Scottish Secretary (a government minister for Scotland), also apologized. He called the memo "vile" and "an embarrassment."
Apology to the Vatican
The British ambassador to the Vatican, Francis Campbell, met with important officials there. He expressed the government's deep regret for what had happened.
Consequences for Those Involved
This section explains what happened to the government workers responsible for the memo.
Disciplinary Actions
The employees who were responsible for the memo faced consequences. Anjoum Noorani was suspended from his job for a time. He later received a serious warning that would stay on his record for five years, which is longer than usual. He was also not allowed to work in overseas positions for five years.
