Pope to visit UK in September

(March 17, 2010) The British Government and the Catholic Bishops of Scotland, England and Wales have welcomed the forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom in September. The four day trip from Sept. 16-19, will be the first official papal visit. Pope John Paul II had made a pastoral visit in 1982. At a press conference on Tuesday, the Bishops said the Papal visit represents an unprecedented opportunity, to strengthen ties between the UK and the Holy See on global initiatives, as well as the important role of faith in creating strong communities. Prior to the Press Conference, a statement from London’s Buckingham Palace announced the papal visit saying: “At the invitation of Queen Elizabeth, Pope Benedict XVI will pay a papal visit to the UK from 16-19 September. The Pope will arrive in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh on 16^th September and will be received by the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the Palace of Holyrood House.”
The highlight of the Pope’s four-day visit, will be the beatification ceremony of Cardinal Henry Newman in Coventry, England. Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, President of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, told the Press Conference in London, that to see Cardinal Newman declared “blessed” – a step toward sainthood, will be a very important moment. He said Cardinal Newman is a towering figure in English history over the last 200 years. Other key events will include a public Mass in Glasgow, Scotland, and a prayer vigil in London.
Pope Benedict will visit Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace in London, and pray with other church leaders at Westminster Abbey. Cardinal Keith O’Brien, President of the Catholic Bishops of Scotland, expressed joy that the Pope has accepted the UK Government’s invitation. He said the Pope will receive a warm welcome from Catholics, as well as members of other faiths. He noted that a defining feature of Pope Benedict’s teaching has been to remind Europe of its Christian roots and culture, and give guidance on the great moral issues of our day.