Pope 'to visit UK next year'

By Andrew Woodcock and Martha Linden, Press Association

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

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ALTOETTING, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 11: Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the holy mass during his pastoral visit to his native Bavaria on the chapel square on September 11, 2006 in Altoetting, Germany. The third day of the pope's visit to Bavaria takes him to Germany's holiest shrines in Altoetting, the village of Marktl am Inn, where he was born as Joseph Ratzinger, and in the evening to Regensburg, where he once taught theology. (Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images)

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Pope Benedict XVI: set to ber first Pope to visit UK since 1982

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Pope Benedict XVI is to come to the UK next year, it was reported today.

Neither the Catholic Church in Britain nor 10 Downing Street were today officially confirming the report, which is believed to have come from British officials travelling with Prime Minister Gordon Brown in New York.

But it is thought the trip will be announced shortly by the Vatican.

Mr Brown extended a formal invitation to the Pope to come to Britain during a private audience in February. If confirmed, it would be the first papal trip to the UK since John Paul II's pastoral visit in 1982.

A spokesman for the Archbishop of Westminster and leader of Catholics in England and Wales, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, said: "Any announcement about a possible visit by the Holy Father to this country we would expect to come from the Holy See."

And a Number 10 spokesman added: "There is no official Downing Street confirmation."

Comments

( Leave a comment )

Estacy

ehross wrote:

Wednesday, 23 September 2009 at 05:54 pm (UTC)

The cross dressers will be ecstatic.

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Red sea or Dead sea

euro_zone wrote:

Wednesday, 23 September 2009 at 06:11 pm (UTC)

thought Teflon Tony was happy in the near east, Gordon must be chewing his toenails

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WHAT A CROSS TO BEAR

ameliemaryann wrote:

Wednesday, 23 September 2009 at 09:34 pm (UTC)

Oh, yes..the Pope is to visit Britain at slimy Gordon's invitation is he? When is it to be? Just before the next election so that we're all so blown away we won't notice we've voted for the wrong party (Labour/Conservatives)? I'm sorry Gorgon Brown...you're OUT even if you invite Mother Theresa here!

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Just say no to the pope.

deejake wrote:

Thursday, 24 September 2009 at 06:30 pm (UTC)

Can we say no to this mass murderer's visit or can he just go wherever he likes?

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I thought we didn't let people like this in?

totalimp wrote:

Friday, 25 September 2009 at 01:18 am (UTC)

I thought dangerous, hate speeching, AIDS facilitating religious fanatics weren't allowed in the country. Jewel encrusted hypocrite!

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I thought we didn't let people like this in?

totalimp wrote:

Friday, 25 September 2009 at 01:20 am (UTC)

I thought dangerous, hate speeching, pedophile facilitating, AIDS facilitating religious fanatics weren't allowed in the country. Jewel encrusted hypocrite!

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