The state of the Vatican City was created today in 1929. Katie Walker remembers learning Latin from Father Reginald Foster, Latinist to four popes, who sadly died on Christmas Day, aged 81.
Reginald Foster was the Pope’s Latinist for 40 years – and for four Popes – from 1969 to 2009. The discalced (from a barefoot or sandal-wearing order) Carmelite priest and friar turned 80 on 14th November 2019.
To become the Pope’s Latinist was some appointment for the plumber’s son from the American Midwest. Father Reginald, known as Reggie, was always a bright one. Whenever he did well at school, his mother used to shout, ‘I knew it! I brought the wrong baby home from