Pope to visit Britain
-06/03/06
Pope Benedict XVI has been invited to visit Britain.
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Pope to visit Britain
-06/03/06
Pope Benedict XVI has been invited to visit Britain.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has said that Pope Benedict XVI has been invited to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor John Paul II, who made an historic visit 24 years ago.
A statement from the Archbishop of Westminster’s office said it was too soon to say either in what that visit might consist, or whether it would be feasible, given the Popeís commitments and the many invitations he has already received from across the world.
However, it is unlikely that the announcement would have been made if the Vatican had not already expressed the Pope’s interest in coming.
The statement said that the President of the Catholic Bishopsí Conference of England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-OíConnor, was keen “that the Pope be aware of how delighted the British people would be, should he feel able to accept.”
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It is unlikely however that the papal visit will coincide with the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul IIís visit in May 1982 during which he travelled all over the country.
It was recently announced that in May next year Pope Benedict will be presiding at the meeting of the Latin-American Episcopal Council (Celam) in Aparecida, Brazil.
The invitation comes alongside the news that Cherie Blair is to meet the Pope later this year.
It is expected that the Prime Minister’s wife will also urge him to make an official visit to Britain.
Downing Street insists the approach will be unofficial, but a senior Catholic source is reported to have said: ìShe will be a key persuader.î
The visit would come at a time when the depth of the relationship between the Church of England and the Catholic church is uncertain given current debates about the consecration of women Bishops and debates about homosexuality within the Anglican Communion.
The visit of the John Paul II to Britain however did a great deal to deepen relationships between the two churches. He was the first pontiff ever to visit Canterbury Cathedral.
The Pope was greeted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie and a crowd of wellwishers who cheered as he arrived by helicopter.
The narrow streets of the city were lined with thousands of people who heard the pontiff tell the congregation of his happiness at visiting the cathedral, adding that it was a day “which centuries and generations had awaited”.
Pope to visit Britain
-06/03/06
Pope Benedict XVI has been invited to visit Britain.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has said that Pope Benedict XVI has been invited to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor John Paul II, who made an historic visit 24 years ago.
A statement from the Archbishop of Westminster’s office said it was too soon to say either in what that visit might consist, or whether it would be feasible, given the Popeís commitments and the many invitations he has already received from across the world.
However, it is unlikely that the announcement would have been made if the Vatican had not already expressed the Pope’s interest in coming.
The statement said that the President of the Catholic Bishopsí Conference of England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-OíConnor, was keen “that the Pope be aware of how delighted the British people would be, should he feel able to accept.”
Related Articles
It is unlikely however that the papal visit will coincide with the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul IIís visit in May 1982 during which he travelled all over the country.
It was recently announced that in May next year Pope Benedict will be presiding at the meeting of the Latin-American Episcopal Council (Celam) in Aparecida, Brazil.
The invitation comes alongside the news that Cherie Blair is to meet the Pope later this year.
It is expected that the Prime Minister’s wife will also urge him to make an official visit to Britain.
Downing Street insists the approach will be unofficial, but a senior Catholic source is reported to have said: ìShe will be a key persuader.î
The visit would come at a time when the depth of the relationship between the Church of England and the Catholic church is uncertain given current debates about the consecration of women Bishops and debates about homosexuality within the Anglican Communion.
The visit of the John Paul II to Britain however did a great deal to deepen relationships between the two churches. He was the first pontiff ever to visit Canterbury Cathedral.
The Pope was greeted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie and a crowd of wellwishers who cheered as he arrived by helicopter.
The narrow streets of the city were lined with thousands of people who heard the pontiff tell the congregation of his happiness at visiting the cathedral, adding that it was a day “which centuries and generations had awaited”.