God save our gracious Pope
It has occurred to me how rather beautiful is the (full) anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (and of Australia until as recently as 1984 with a brief hiatus in the mid-1970s). And how appropriate are the words when applied to that other somewhat well-known reigning monarch. With apologies to any (British) monarchists and those of a less Papist disposition:
God save our gracious Pope
Long live our noble Pope
God save the Pope
Send him victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Pope
O Lord our God arise
Scatter his enemies
And make them fall
Confound their politics
Frustrate their knavish tricks
On Thee our hopes we fix
God save us all
Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour
Long may he reign
May he defend Thy laws
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Pope
Not in Roma alone
But be God's mercies known
From shore to shore
Lord make the nations see
That men should brothers be
And form one family
The wide world o'er
From every latent foe,
From the assassins blow,
God save the Pope!
O'er him Thine arm extend,
For the world's sake defend,
Our father, prince, and friend,
God save the Pope!
With the present goings-on, one could have lots of fun modifying this final (extremely politically incorrect) verse (and I mean no offence whatsoever to any Scots):
[Lord grant that [Marshal Wade]
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious [Scots] to crush.
God save the [Queen!]]
