Papal knight

I was extremely impressed by the superb coverage of The Baron on the daft HR pledge to support Britain’s armed forces, and to see so many people I worked with and respect explaining clearly why it was a disastrous mistake.

So I was concerned to see a Baron news item that Philip Pullella, who has covered the Vatican for Reuters since 1983, has accepted being named a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius, by Pope Francis.

The story quotes Pullella as saying it’s a “blast” and jokingly telling people they don’t have to call him “Sir".

But surely it is clear to everybody that this honorific should never have been accepted and puts many Reuters staff at great risk?

This is much more egregious than UK HR signing up to a pointless pledge for the British armed forces. If Pullella wants to accept an honour from the Pope for his Reuters journalism, this is really serious, and this time editorial can’t just blame HR.

I hope Philip realises that however flattering the award may be, he needs to (belatedly) politely refuse. ■