Pieces of wood believed to be from the cross Jesus Christ was crucified on over 2,000 years ago will be part of the cross that will lead the coronation service for King Charles III in May at Westminster Abbey. Pope Francis gifted the two splinters before his coronation, and, according to Reuters, they’ll form their cross in the middle of the processional cross. The Church of Wales also stated that the processional cross “will incorporate a relic of the True Cross,” calling it a “significant ecumenical gesture.”

The processional cross, known as the Cross of Wales, was created from Welsh slate and timber, recycled silver bullion and given to the monarch by the Church of Wales as a gift. On the back are words from the last sermon of St. David in Welsh. It reads, “Byddwch lawen. Cadwch y ffydd. Gwnewch y Pethau Bychain,” which translates to, “Be joyful. Keep the faith. Do the little things.” The Archbishop of Wales also blessed it.

At the blessing service in Wales, Andrew John, the Archbishop of Wales, said, “Its design speaks to our Christian faith, our heritage, resources, and commitment to sustainability. We are delighted too that its first use will be to guide their majesties into Westminster Abbey at the Coronation Service.” Before the service, Mark O’Toole, the Archbishop of Cardiff and Bishop of Menevia, said on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church in Wales, “With a sense of deep joy, we embrace this Cross kindly given by King Charles, and containing a relic of the True Cross, generously gifted by the Holy See.”

He continued, “It is not only a sign of the deep Christian roots of our nation but will, I am sure, encourage us all to model our lives on the love given by our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We look forward to honoring it, not only in the various celebrations that are planned but also in the dignified setting in which it will find a permanent home.”

Michael Lloyd designed the crown and said the project “started with a love of the material, its malleability, and its potential for expression.” He continued, “The commission has allowed me to delve into the previous 1,000 years of faith and history. Now, with more than 267 thousand hammer blows, the cross has emerged from the inanimate sheets of silver, and I am delighted it will be used as part of the Coronation Service on May 6th.”

The king commissioned the cross in 2010 to mark the centenary of the Chuch of Wales while he was still the Prince of Wales. When Queen Elizabeth died last September, Charles passed the Prince of Wales title on to Prince William after becoming king. The coronation at Westminster Abbey will occur on the morning of May 6th. It will be followed by a weekend of festive events, including a star-studded public concert at Windsor Castle.

King Charles’ coronation will be a joyous time for England after the sad loss of Queen Elizabeth II. Hopefully, the pieces from the True Cross will also bring joy to the citizens.