Robert Runcie served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1980 to 1991. He was the 102nd Archbishop and is remembered for his moderate views and efforts to maintain unity within the Anglican Communion. Runcie played a significant role during a period marked by challenges such as the ordination of women, relationships with other Christian denominations, and social issues in the UK, including responses to the Falklands War. His tenure was characterized by his commitment to reconciliation and dialogue.

On February 21, 1173, Pope Alexander III officially declared Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a saint. This event occurred just over two years after Becket's brutal murder in Canterbury Cathedral, which sparked widespread veneration of him as a martyr.

The canonization of Becket was a significant event in medieval history, as it solidified his status as a religious and political icon. It also helped to mend the strained relationship between the English
crown and the papacy, which had been exacerbated by the conflict surrounding Becket's life and death. The shocking murder on 29 December 1170 of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury