Prince Guillaume is the youngest child of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg. Born in 1963, he attended secondary school in Luxembourg and Switzerland. He continued his studies at the University of Grenoble (where he earned his baccalaureate in 1982), at Oxford, and at Georgetown (where he received his degree in International Relations in 1987). He has worked for the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. and the European Commission in Brussels. In 1994, he married Sybille Weiller, a lovely young Frenchwoman. Sybille's mother is an Italian aristocrat of Spanish royal descent, Donna Olimpia Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi. The couple have four children. In 2007, Connecticut's Sacred Heart University awarded Prince Guillaume an honorary doctorate. Dr. Edmond Israel, chairman of Cedel International and former chair of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, delivered the laudatio:
Sacred Heart University is a blessing for those who are studying here and know how to listen also...with the ears of their heart. Prince Guillaume who is honoured today, is one of those human beings who listen with the ears of their heart, and that is why he is a source of inspiration for those who prepare their future.
While conferring the degree, Dr. Anthony Cernera, President of Sacred Heart University, spoke in similar glowing terms:
Your Royal Highness, (with) your life of strong social leadership and generous compassion, you’re witness to the values that we espouse for our students and the University community inspires all of us, and we are grateful for your presence among us. Sacred Heart University brings great honor on itself today by honoring you.
Apparently, Guillaume and Sybille are keenly interested in youth, education and inter-faith dialogue. I am rather wary of the latter, I have to admit. I am not opposed to open discussion of religious differences, and, if possible, reconciliation, but union must be based on the truth and there is a danger that truths of faith may be gravely compromised in all the effort to reach a consensus. Nonetheless, I have no idea what approach the princely couple take to these issues, so I will not launch into criticisms.
4 comments:
This sort of talk always reminds me of one author's view of the style of ecuminism of Pius XI which he described as, "come into the Church slowly with your hands over your head!" lol Seriously though, inter-faith dialogue is fine and I'm all for it but of course to be genuine you have to be firm in your own beliefs and not trying to make yourself into something you are not. Watering down to make things palatable does not lead to unity just weakened faith and confused people. I wouldn't read too much into it though. I'm sure Prince Guillaume is a fine man but awards such as that I have come to view as the religious equivalent of "working well with others". All well and good but nothing too earth shaking.
What a lovely looking couple! They also seem to have a great desire to do good in the world.
Josephine Charolotte was a direct descendant of Josephine de Beauharnais:)
What a beautiful bride!
God Bless!
Juliana
P.S.--I sent you an email.
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