Prince and Mugabe gesture was much more than a handshake
-11/04/05
The row over Prince Charles ëshaking handsí with Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe at the Pope’s funeral on Friday is lingering on. Human rights protestors have written to the Prince, asking for a formal apology. And a Christian think-tank has pointed out that the gesture has a wider political and religious significance.
A spokesperson for the Prince, who is now on honeymoon with his new wife in Scotland, re-iterated a statement last week that no sign of approval was intended by the ëhandshakeí, which took place during the Mass.
Charles, seated one place away from Mugabe, was ìcaught by surpriseî when the President leaned over to offer his hand, the spokesman explained, adding that the heir to the British throne finds the present Zimbabwean regime ìabhorrent.î
Many public figures, including EU legislator Glenys Kinnock, have condemned the Prince and his advisers for the incident.
Mugabe, whose government is accused of widespread human rights violations, has been criticized for attending Pope John Paul II’s funeral by sidestepping a European Union travel ban which does not apply to the Vatican.
The Vatican has also been criticised for putting protocol above justice, but it says that it is required to operate as a City State rather than a Church in such matters ñ a point which Christians who oppose ëstate religioní have noted with concern.
ìThe disquiet about the Prince Charles ñ Mugabe incident is understandableî, says Ekklesia associate Simon Barrow, ìbut few seem to have noticed that it wasnít a ëhandshakeí at all. It was a ritual exchange of the Peace of Christ as part of a Eucharistic service. And it involved a whole range of world leaders. Thatís even more importantî
He continued: ìPresident Mugabe wasnít the only one present who exchanged Christís peace while sanctioning the abuse of human rights. Others, including representatives from the US and Saudi Arabia, carry out widespread judicial executions. Many, including the British, are involved in wars which have cost thousands of lives.î
ìTo invoke the Peace of Christ is to make a promise to live justly, to recognise God in each other, and to refuse to be selective in according dignity to people and nationsî, says Barrow. ìThe radical response to this particular incident is not to call on people to refuse the Peace, but to ask them to embrace its full significance.î