state visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom

{{Expand section|date=September 2010}}

An invitation to visit Britain was extended to Pope Benedict XVI by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown in February 2009. The Pope's visit featured in the debates between party leaders in April 2010, prior to the 2010 United Kingdom general election, where all three party leaders expressed support for the visit, while expressing disagreement with some of the Pope's views.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/23_04_10_seconddebate.pdf Second prime ministerial debate, 22 April 2010, Transcript] BBC News 23 April 2010

Anjoum Noorani of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was originally a key contact between the British Government and the papal visit team. However, he was suspended from overseas postings and given a final warning, to last for five years, after approving the sending of a memo written by Steven Mulvain, a 23-year-old Oxford graduate, mocking the visit.{{Cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7804506/Diplomat-who-sent-Pope-condom-memo-given-final-warning-and-banned-from-overseas-postings.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609143436/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7804506/Diplomat-who-sent-Pope-condom-memo-given-final-warning-and-banned-from-overseas-postings.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=9 June 2010 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Diplomat who sent Pope 'condom' memo given final warning and banned from overseas postings | first=Martin | last=Beckford | date=6 June 2010}} Subsequently, the new Government appointed liberal Catholic{{Cite news| url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100046639/lord-patten-im-like-lot-of-catholics-i-dont-agree-with-everything-the-vatican-says/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710172212/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100046639/lord-patten-im-like-lot-of-catholics-i-dont-agree-with-everything-the-vatican-says/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 July 2010 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Lord Patten: 'I'm like lot of Catholics. I don't agree with everything the Vatican says' | date=8 July 2010}} Lord Patten to get the visit back on track following a series of setbacks.{{Cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7803820/Lord-Patten-will-co-ordinate-Pope-Benedict-XVIs-trip-to-Britain.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607071656/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7803820/Lord-Patten-will-co-ordinate-Pope-Benedict-XVIs-trip-to-Britain.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 June 2010 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Lord Patten will co-ordinate Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Britain | first=Martin | last=Beckford | date=4 June 2010}}

There were three specific ticketed events open to the public during the Pope's visit. These were a Mass in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, on the afternoon of Thursday 16 September, an evening prayer vigil in Hyde Park, London, on Saturday 18 September, and the Mass of Beatification of John Henry Newman in Cofton Park, Longbridge, Birmingham, on Sunday 19 September.

In contrast with the previous Papal visit to Britain, that of Pope John Paul II in 1982, where anyone could attend open-air events, there was tight security for the 2010 Papal visit, with all attendees required to register in advance through their parish and to attend in a group with a 'Pilgrim Leader' from that parish, who as leader had the responsibility to vouch for all members of his group.{{cite web |url=http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/2010-Visit/Visit-Event-Information/Attending-Events/How-can-I-see-the-Pope-in-the-UK |title=Article-How can I see the Pope in the UK? |publisher=Thepapalvisit.org.uk |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-date=7 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007105437/http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/2010-Visit/Visit-Event-Information/Attending-Events/How-can-I-see-the-Pope-in-the-UK |url-status=dead }} All registered attendees received a 'Pilgrim Pass', required for admission to events. Non-Catholics were permitted to attend, by contacting their local parish.{{cite news|last=Beckford |first=Martin |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/7873291/Non-Catholics-encouraged-to-take-part-in-Popes-visit-to-Britain.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708193716/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/7873291/Non-Catholics-encouraged-to-take-part-in-Popes-visit-to-Britain.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2010 |title=Non-Catholics encouraged to take part in Pope's visit to Britain |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 July 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |location=London}}

The Mass of Beatification in Cofton Park was originally arranged for Coventry Airport, with a capacity of up to 250,000.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/8576825.stm |title=Mass to be held at Coventry Airport by Pope Benedict |publisher=BBC News |date=19 March 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}} The planned event at the airport, which had seen 350,000 attend the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1982,{{Cite web |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WggOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6855,6458500 |title = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717234738/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WggOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6855,6458500 |archive-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead}} was the subject of an Isle of Man commemorative stamp.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/catholiclife/2010/08/13/newman-and-papal-visit-receive-stamp-of-approval/ |title=Newman and papal visit receive stamp of approval |work=Catholicherald.co.uk |date=13 August 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}} However the event was switched to the much smaller Cofton Park, Longbridge, a switch that the church denied was to reduce costs, instead stating that Cofton Park had a greater connection to Newman, who had lived in the area and walked around the park.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10509127 |title=Pope's UK visit 'could cost taxpayers £12m' |work=BBC News |date=5 July 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}}

The visit of the Pope was the first state visit of a Pope to Britain; the visit of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, had been a pastoral visit, and as such the British government did not pay the costs of that visit, although expenses were incurred by local governments in areas that he visited.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Js8fAAAAIBAJ&pg=3067,6922073|title=The Fort Scott Tribune - Google News Archive Search|website=Google News|access-date=26 November 2017}}

The final cost to the British taxpayer (excluding policing costs) of the visit was £10 million.{{cite news|author=Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/28/catholic-church-papal-visit-uk |title=Catholic church struggles with cost of pope's visit to UK |work=The Guardian |date=28 October 2010 |access-date=5 December 2010 |location=London}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11305217 |title=David Cameron offers 'warm welcome' to Pope in video |work=BBC News |date=14 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}} The cost to the taxpayer was criticised, with a ComRes poll showing that 76% of people in the UK agreed with the statement that 'The Pope is a religious figure so the taxpayer should not be contributing to the costs of his visit'.{{cite web |url=http://campaigndirector.moodia.com/Client/Theos/Files/TheosPopePoll.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=24 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714113841/http://campaigndirector.moodia.com/Client/Theos/Files/TheosPopePoll.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2011 }} The cost was defended by the Archbishop of Westminster, leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, who said that it was right for the government to pay for official State Visits,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11191386 |title=Archbishop says UK taxpayer should help fund Pope visit |work=BBC News |date=5 September 2010 |access-date=17 September 2010}} as well as by Lord Patten, who said that the cost compared favourably with the £20 million spent on the 2009 G-20 London Summit.[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i399yZzlQndOhF_77tHM7TeLAMEwD9I3OCP81]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The visit was predicted to cost Edinburgh City council £400,000.{{cite web|last=Blackley |first=Michael |url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Pope39s-visit-to-Edinburgh-will.6456024.jp |title=Pope's visit to Edinburgh will cost city £400k - Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=edinburghnews.scotsman.com |access-date=17 September 2010}}

The financial benefits as well as costs of the Papal visit were reported, with the councillor coordinating the visit to Birmingham, which incurred £80,000 in direct costs, estimated before the event a £12.5 million boost to the city,{{cite news |author=Neil Elkes |url=http://www.birminghampost.net/dailybulletin/news2/2010/09/07/pope-visit-worth-12-5-million-to-birmingham-s-economy-65233-27221936/ |title=Pope visit worth £12.5 million to Birmingham's economy |work=Birmingham Post |date=7 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-date=19 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119132601/http://www.birminghampost.net/dailybulletin/news2/2010/09/07/pope-visit-worth-12-5-million-to-birmingham-s-economy-65233-27221936/ |url-status=dead }} while Scott Taylor of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau said that there was a direct £4.25m benefit to Glasgow, with further valuable publicity from the resultant media coverage of the city.

It was announced in July that attendees at events would be charged for a compulsory 'Pilgrim Pack', including commemorative items, in order to fund transport costs.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2010/07/14/faithful-urged-to-apply-as-soon-as-possible-for-papal-visit-places/ |title=Catholics urged to apply as soon as possible for papal visit places |work=Catholicherald.co.uk |date=14 July 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}} The costs were £5 for the Hyde Park vigil (which did not include transport), £25 to attend the Cofton Park event and £20 to attend Bellahouston Park Mass.{{cite news|last=Beckford |first=Martin |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/8000247/Pope-visit-Church-blames-early-start-for-low-ticket-sales.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917134556/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/8000247/Pope-visit-Church-blames-early-start-for-low-ticket-sales.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 September 2010 |title=Pope visit: Church blames early start for low ticket sales |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |location=London}} The £20 charge for Bellahouston Park was levied on the parish, which had discretion as to whether it recouped the cost directly from attendees.{{cite web|url=http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/content/download/9874/64535/file/PAPAL%20MASS%20BELLAHOUSTON%20FAQS.pdf|title=Papal Mass – Bellahouston Park : Thursday 16th September 2010 : Frequently Asked Questions|website=Thepapalvisit.org.uk|access-date=26 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309071414/http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/content/download/9874/64535/file/PAPAL%20MASS%20BELLAHOUSTON%20FAQS.pdf|archive-date=9 March 2012|url-status=dead}} The charges were said to be the first ever levied for attending Papal events,{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/pilgrims-must-pay-to-attend-2-big-events-in-england-during-popes-visit-in-september/ |title=Pilgrims must pay to attend 2 big events in England during pope's visit in September |work=Fox News |date=7 April 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}} and came amid reports that the church was £2.6 million short of its donation target.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/catholic-church-struggles-to-raise-funds-for-popes-visit-2052311.html | location=London | work=The Independent | title=Catholic Church struggles to raise funds for Pope's visit | first=Jerome | last=Taylor | date=14 August 2010}}

The cost to the Catholic Church was £10 million, against the £7 million published on the Papal Visit website.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/catholic-church-struggles-to-raise-funds-for-popes-visit-2052311.html |title=Catholic Church struggles to raise funds for Pope's visit |work=The Independent |date=14 August 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |location=London |first=Jerome |last=Taylor}} The bulk of the £7m, £5.2m was for staging the three large-scale public events, a further £0.6m for three smaller pastoral events, with the remaining £1.2m covering evangelism, planning and communication.{{cite web|url=http://thepapalvisit.com/Donate/Why-does-the-Church-need-to-raise-7m-and-what-will-it-be-spent-on |title=Article-Why does the Church need to raise £7m and what will it be spent on? |work=Thepapalvisit.com |access-date=16 October 2010}} £1.1 million was raised through a Pentecost Sunday special collection in churches and £4m from wealthy individual donors. As of November 2010 the church had a £3.5m shortfall, due to be repaid to the Government by April 2011.

Pope Benedict XVI began his official visit in Scotland at Edinburgh Airport on 16 September, where he was greeted by Prince Philip and the Archbishops of Westminster and St Andrews and Edinburgh. He then met the Queen for the first time at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, the Queen's official residence in Scotland, with the ceremonial Guard of honour formed by the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers and the High Constables of Holyroodhouse.

In his speech at Holyrood Palace, the Pope associated atheist extremism with Nazism, causing controversy.{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2010/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20100916_incontro-autorita_en.html |title=Audience with H.M. The Queen and State Reception Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI |publisher=Vatican.va |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}}[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11332515 Row after Pope's remarks on atheism and Nazis] BBC News, 16 September 2010[http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/297690 Fury as Pope appears to equate UK atheism with Nazism] Digital Journal, 17 September 2010[http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/09/pope-benedict-atheists-nazis-richard-dawkins/1 Atheist Dawkins rages at pope tying godless, Nazis] USA Today, 17 September 2010 The Pope said:

{{cquote|Even in our own lifetime, we can recall how Britain and her leaders stood against a Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society and denied our common humanity to many, especially the Jews, who were thought unfit to live. I also recall the regime’s attitude to Christian pastors and religious who spoke the truth in love, opposed the Nazis and paid for that opposition with their lives. As we reflect on the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the twentieth century, let us never forget how the exclusion of God, religion and virtue from public life leads ultimately to a truncated vision of man and of society and thus to a “reductive vision of the person and his destiny”.

}}

A parade for Saint Ninian's day was held at 11am, the route beginning on Regent Road, Edinburgh, and proceeding along Princes Street. Attendance was open to all, with a parade of school children and figures from Scotland's Christian history, in honour of St Ninian of Galloway, who brought Christianity to Scotland from Rome in the fifth century. After the parade, which was attended by around 125,000 people, the Pope proceeded by Popemobile{{cite web|url=http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/2010-Visit/Visit-Event-Information/Popemobile-Routes |title=Pope Benedict XVI-Popemobile Routes |work=Thepapalvisit.org.uk |access-date=16 October 2010}} to have lunch with Cardinal O'Brien at his home before travelling by car to Glasgow.

The Pope was greeted by the Archbishop of Glasgow for the ticketed Mass of the Feast of St Ninian in Bellahouston Park. Susan Boyle and Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus performed before the start of the Mass.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} Attendance was around 65,000 people.{{cite news|last=Cramb |first=Auslan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/8007705/Pope-visit-thousands-make-the-pilgrimage-to-Bellahouston-Park.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918043606/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/8007705/Pope-visit-thousands-make-the-pilgrimage-to-Bellahouston-Park.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 September 2010 |title=Pope visit: thousands make the pilgrimage to Bellahouston Park |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |location=London}} The Pope flew from Glasgow Airport to London Heathrow airport that evening.{{cite web|url=http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/2010-Visit/Events-Timeline |title=Article-Events Timeline / 2010 Visit |work=Thepapalvisit.org.uk |access-date=16 October 2010}}

On the second day of his visit to the United Kingdom the Pope began the day with a private Mass at 54 Parkside, Wimbledon, the official residence of the Apostolic Nunciature to Great Britain, blessing three stained glass windows commissioned from the artist Brian Clarke for the new Papal Chapel. The works of art were to commemorate the Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman. His first public engagement was a celebration of Catholic education with a visit to address educators and students at St Mary's University, Twickenham,{{cite web|url=https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/about/papal-visit/overview.aspx|title=The 2010 Papal Visit | St Mary's University, Twickenham |publisher=Stmarys.ac.uk |date=17 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}} which was followed by a meeting with people of faith in the university's Waldegrave Drawing Room.

He became the first Pope to enter Lambeth Palace, where he met the Archbishop of Canterbury.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} He made the journey from Lambeth Palace to the Palace of Westminster by Popemobile, making an address to Civil Society from the spot in Westminster Hall where St Thomas More died a martyr's death in 1535, being accused of high treason for holding to his Catholic faith in refusing to acknowledge the validity of the Act of Succession.

In the evening there was an ecumenical celebration of evening prayer at Westminster Abbey with representatives from all the main Christian churches including the Greek Orthodox, Coptic and Free Churches. He later venerated the tomb of Edward the Confessor at the Abbey.{{cite web|url=http://www.westminster-abbey.org/press/news/news/2010/september/historic-abbey-service-for-pope |title=Historic Abbey Service for Pope |publisher=Westminster Abbey |access-date=16 October 2010}}

File:Hyde Park Vigil.jpg

File:Hyde Park Vigil 80000.jpg

The Pope began the day with meetings with David Cameron, Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, and Harriet Harman, Acting Leader of the Opposition. This was followed with morning Mass in Westminster Cathedral. In his sermon, the Pope referenced sexual abuse by priests, saying: "Here, too, I think of the immense suffering caused by the abuse of children, especially within the church and by her ministers. Above all, I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes", saying "I also acknowledge with you the shame and humiliation which all of us have suffered because of these sins".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/18/pope-benedict-sermon-westminster-cathedral |title=Pope Benedict XVI's sermon at Westminster Cathedral |work=The Guardian |date= 18 September 2010|access-date=16 October 2010 |location=London}}

After Mass, the Pope used the middle part of the day to meet five victims of child sex abuse at the Apostolic Nunciature, apologising to them and describing the Church's measures to protect young people.{{cite news|last=Pigott |first=Robert |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11361749 |title=What has the Pope's visit achieved? 19 September 2010 |work=BBC News |date=19 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}} The meeting had been planned before the Pope's visit, and time was left free in his schedule to allow for it.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

In the evening the Pope visited St Peter's Residence for Older People, run by Little Sisters of the Poor. The Pope travelled to the day's main event, the ticketed Hyde Park Prayer Vigil on the Eve of the Beatification of Cardinal Newman, by Popemobile. The vigil was attended by 80,000 people.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2010/09/19/the-pope-apologises-to-abuse-victims-as-80-000-pray-in-london-park-86908-22572592/ |title=The Pope apologises to abuse victims as 80,000 pray in London park |work=The Daily Record |access-date=16 October 2010}} The Pope's speech described Newman's life's work "as a struggle against the growing tendency to view religion as a purely private and subjective matter, a question of personal opinion", stating that it was a lesson for today, in which "an intellectual and moral relativism threatens to sap the very foundations of our society".{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2010/09/18/papal-visit-2010-popes-address-at-hyde-park-vigil-full-text/ |title=Papal Visit 2010: Pope's Address at Hyde Park Vigil – full text |work=Catholicherald.co.uk |date=18 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}}

File:Stage preparations, Cofton Park, 090910, cropped.JPG

The final day of the Pope's visit saw the Pope fly by helicopter from London to Birmingham for the main event of his visit, the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman in Cofton Park in Birmingham. Local residents were required to carry vehicle passes as well as to carry proof of identity in order to leave their own homes.{{cite news|last=Peek |first=Sitala |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-11303899 |title=Pope's visit: historic event or one to avoid? |work=BBC News |date=15 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}} Attendance at the event was approximately 55,000,{{cite web |last=Hesketh |first=Jane |url=http://www.itv.com/central-west/pope-at-cofton-park51831/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127024240/http://www.itv.com/central-west/pope-at-cofton-park51831/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 January 2013 |title=Central Regional News (ITV Central Tonight) - ITV Local |publisher=Itv.com |date=19 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 }} a figure said to have been reduced by the requirement to arrive at the location between 3am and 7am on special coaches for the 10am start.{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/administration-problems-blamed-for-pope-visit-ticket-slump-14947215.html |title='Administration problems' blamed for Pope visit ticket slump |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=13 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}}

The Cofton Park Mass was followed by a private visit to Birmingham Oratory, founded by John Henry Newman.{{cite web |url=http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/2010-Visit/Visit-Event-Information/Itinerary/19-September-2010/The-Birmingham-Oratory |title=The Birmingham Oratory |work=Thepapalvisit.org.uk |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920163138/http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/2010-Visit/Visit-Event-Information/Itinerary/19-September-2010/The-Birmingham-Oratory |archive-date=20 September 2010 |url-status=dead }} The visit was preceded by controversy due to the exiling of three priests to monasteries in separate parts of the world.{{Cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/7956204/Popes-visit-could-be-overshadowed-by-exile-of-Birmingham-priests.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824051745/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/7956204/Popes-visit-could-be-overshadowed-by-exile-of-Birmingham-priests.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 August 2010 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Pope's visit could be overshadowed by exile of Birmingham priests | first=Martin | last=Beckford | date=21 August 2010}}

The visit concluded with lunch and a meeting with the bishops of England, Scotland and Wales at St Mary's College, Oscott. The Pope gave a final speech at Birmingham Airport, before departing for Rome on a chartered Alitalia Airbus A320. British Airways, as UK flag carrier, would have been the usual choice for a state Papal visit, but they were reportedly rejected due to concerns about strikes.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

The Pope's schedule reportedly included free time to allow for the 83-year-old to take naps.{{Cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/popes-uk-visit-schedule-to-contain-nap-breaks-2055909.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/popes-uk-visit-schedule-to-contain-nap-breaks-2055909.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Independent | title=Pope's UK visit schedule to contain nap breaks | first=Jerome | last=Taylor | date=18 August 2010}}

In conjunction with the visit, an exhibition of Raphael's tapestries for the Sistine Chapel took place at London's Victoria and Albert Museum from 8 September to 17 October 2010 where they were displayed for the first time alongside the Raphael Cartoons used to make them; the cartoons having been in the British Royal Collection since 1623. This followed a reported scaling-back of earlier plans for a large exhibition of Vatican artworks at London's Royal Academy.{{Cite news| url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100047995/popes-visit-what-happened-to-the-major-exhibition-of-vatican-treasures-at-the-royal-academy/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723215524/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/100047995/popes-visit-what-happened-to-the-major-exhibition-of-vatican-treasures-at-the-royal-academy/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=23 July 2010 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Pope's visit: What happened to the major exhibition of Vatican treasures at the Royal Academy? | date=21 July 2010}}

On 17 September 2010 the Metropolitan Police arrested five street cleaners under the Terrorism Act 2000 in a pre-dawn raid at a London cleaning depot, in a suspected terrorist plot against the Pope on the second day of his state visit; a sixth person was arrested later in the day at his home "on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism".{{Cite news| title = Six held over Pope terror alert | date = 17 September 2010 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11346001 | work = BBC News | access-date = 17 September 2010}} The men, aged between 26 and 50, had been working as street cleaners for contractors Veolia Environnement, on behalf of Westminster City Council, and were based at the Chiltern Street depot in Marylebone.

The suspects were questioned at an unidentified London police station. The police did not uncover any hazardous items during an initial search of the business premises and other properties.{{Cite news| url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i399yZzlQndOhF_77tHM7TeLAMEwD9I9RPO00 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920054621/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i399yZzlQndOhF_77tHM7TeLAMEwD9I9RPO00 | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 September 2010 | location=London | agency=Associated Press | title=6 arrested in UK in alleged terror threat to pope | first=Nicole | last=Winfield | date=17 September 2010}} According to police some of the suspects were thought to be immigrants to Britain, from a variety of nations including a number from Algeria.{{Cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/8010002/Pope-visit-sixth-man-arrested-over-alleged-assassination-plot.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918062354/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/8010002/Pope-visit-sixth-man-arrested-over-alleged-assassination-plot.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=18 September 2010 | location=London | work=The Telegraph | title=Pope visit: sixth man arrested over alleged assassination plot | first=Duncan | last=Gardham | date=17 September 2010}}

All the men were released without charge before the Pope's visit ended. It turned out they were arrested after joking about how the Popemobile could not withstand an RPG attack.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

An Imperial College physics graduate (philosopher in his spare-time) was routinely stopped, searched and security-ordinanced by the police as a terrorism-suspect for wandering around aimlessly with a beard.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

File:Flag of the Vatican City flying in Bradford (21st September 2010).jpg flying in Bradford, West Yorkshire in honour of the papal visit.]]

The visit saw support from a range of people and organisations, including several leaders within other religions. The President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, Rafiq Hayat, stated that "Religious leaders have a pivotal role to play in promoting peace and serving humanity. Indeed religions have far more commonalities than differences and we welcome moves that will help forge unity and foster greater understanding."{{cite web|url=http://www.sys-con.com/node/1537040|title=UK Muslim Leader Welcomes Visit by Pope|date= 17 September 2010|access-date=17 September 2010}}

Vivian Wineman, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "In an age where scepticism and ill-will towards religion is rising, it will be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that there is much to unite people of faith and much that can be achieved when we work together for the greater good not only of our members, but for society as a whole."{{cite web|url=http://www.rcdow.org.uk/papalvisit/blog/?25|title=Papal visit to Great Britain|date=15 September 2010|access-date=15 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928133035/http://www.rcdow.org.uk/papalvisit/blog/?25|archive-date=28 September 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Media coverage of the visit, which was largely critical before the event, was more positive during and following the Pope's visit. A BBC News correspondent noted that 'there was a tangible sense of relief, even of euphoria, among Pope Benedict's entourage during the return flight to Rome from Birmingham'.{{cite news|last=Willey |first=David |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11372501 |title=Pope's visit is deemed to challenge stereotypes |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=20 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}}

{{Further|Anti-Catholicism in the United Kingdom|Criticism of the Catholic Church|New Atheism}}

File:2010 protest the pope rally.png

The visit was opposed by a range of people and organisations including some Protestants, LGBT, and secular groups due to a number of reasons, such as the Church's policies on the ordination of women, homosexuality, contraception and AIDS, as well as complaints over historical sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests.{{cite news|last=Wynne |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/7981933/Public-believes-taxpayers-should-not-fund-papal-visit.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908035704/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/the-pope/7981933/Public-believes-taxpayers-should-not-fund-papal-visit.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 September 2010 |title=Public believes taxpayers should not fund papal visit |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 September 2010 |access-date=17 September 2010 |location=London}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/06/03/church-costs-for-popes-visit-out-of-control/ |title=Church costs for Pope's visit 'out of control' - from Pink News |work=Pink News |date=3 June 2010 |access-date=17 September 2010}} Former DUP leader Ian Paisley (known for his staunch Anti-Catholicism in Northern Ireland) called the visit a "mistake"{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10484122 |title=Pope Benedict XVI UK visit a 'mistake' says Ian Paisley |work=BBC News |date=2 July 2010 |access-date=17 September 2010}} and the principal of Scotland's Free Church Training College said the visit airbrushed the Protestant Reformation out of history and dishonoured reformer and nationalist John Knox.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2010/07/14/faithful-urged-to-apply-as-soon-as-possible-for-papal-visit-places/ |title=Catholics urged to apply as soon as possible for papal visit places |work=Catholicherald.co.uk |date=14 July 2010 |access-date=17 September 2010}} On the eve of the visit, a letter by 50 public figures argued that the Pope's tour should not have been accorded the status of a state visit.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/15/pope-uk-state-visit-protest Pope's visit: pontiff should not be 'honoured' with state visit] The Guardian, 15 September 2010{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/15/harsh-judgments-on-pope-religion |title=Letter by 50 public figures for not giving the honour of state to Pope |work=The Guardian |date= 15 September 2010|access-date=16 October 2010 |location=London}}

A number of groups, including the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society organised a campaign of protests against the visit.{{cite web |url=http://www.protest-the-pope.org.uk/ |title=Protest The Pope |publisher=Protest The Pope |access-date=18 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813034024/http://www.protest-the-pope.org.uk/ |archive-date=13 August 2010 }} The Roman Catholic pressure group "Catholic Women's Ordination" arranged for London buses to carry advertisements encouraging the Pope to "Ordain Women Now"{{Cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/22/london-bus-female-ordination-pope | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=London buses to carry female ordination advert during pope's visit. | first=Riazat | last=Butt | date=22 July 2010}} and also planned further unspecified lobbying action. Religious and secular correspondents noted that only 3 women appeared at Lambeth Palace to support the ordination of women.{{cite web |url=http://www.catholic-womens-ordination.org.uk/news.htm#Pope |title=Local Groups |work=Catholic-womens-ordination.org.uk |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-date=29 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829083121/http://www.catholic-womens-ordination.org.uk/news.htm#Pope |url-status=dead }}

File:Richard dawkins speaking at the protest the pope rally 2010.png speaking at the protest, with Peter Tatchell on the left at the back.]]

Richard Dawkins gave a speech to over 10,000{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/18/pope-benedict-xvi-protest|title=Protest the Pope rally sees 10,000 march through London's streets|first=Tracy|last=Mcveigh|date=18 September 2010|access-date=26 November 2017|website=Theguardian.com}} people at the "Protest the Pope" rally, declaring the pope "an enemy of humanity", and countering the Pope's claim that the holocaust was the result of atheism by arguing that Hitler was a Roman Catholic.{{cite web |url=http://richarddawkins.net/articles/521113-ratzinger-is-an-enemy-of-humanity |title=Dawkins speech |publisher=Richarddawkins.net |date=22 September 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-date=12 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101012024841/http://richarddawkins.net/articles/521113-ratzinger-is-an-enemy-of-humanity |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|author=Science |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2010/sep/20/1 |title=Richard Dawkins' unedited speech at 'Protest the Pope' march in London |work=The Guardian |date= 20 September 2010|access-date=16 October 2010}} Dawkins had previously supported a call for the Pope's arrest for "crimes against humanity", an idea first proposed by Christopher Hitchens{{Cite news |url=http://richarddawkins.net/videos/5434-christopher-hitchens-arrest-the-pope |title=Christopher Hitchens: Arrest The Pope! |access-date=17 September 2010 |archive-date=9 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909221426/http://richarddawkins.net/videos/5434-christopher-hitchens-arrest-the-pope |url-status=dead }} and described by a former editor of the Catholic Herald as "lunatic",{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8614232.stm | work=BBC News | title=Dawkins backs plan to arrest Pope | date=13 April 2010}} and human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson was reported to have looked at options to charge the Pope over his alleged cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/13/pope-prosecution-dawkins |title=The pope should stand trial |work=The Guardian |date= 13 April 2010|access-date=18 September 2010 |location=London |first=Richard |last=Dawkins}}

In July 2010, the UK government announced plans to change the law on universal jurisdiction to prevent the issue of an arrest warrant.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/295022 |title=UK government acts to prevent arrest of Pope |publisher=Digitaljournal.com |date=23 July 2010 |access-date=18 September 2010}} Attempts to make a citizen's arrest on the Pope were abandoned by Peter Tatchell.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/peter-tatchell-scraps-idea-of-making-citizens-arrest-on-the-pope-2074273.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/peter-tatchell-scraps-idea-of-making-citizens-arrest-on-the-pope-2074273.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Peter Tatchell scraps idea of making citizen's arrest on the Pope |work=The Independent |date= 9 September 2010|access-date=17 September 2010 |location=London |first=Jerome |last=Taylor}} Members of Muslims Against Crusades protested against the Pope in London.{{cite news|author1=Multiple authors|title=Pope Benedict XVI's UK visit: Day three|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2010/sep/18/pope-benedict-xvi-london|access-date=10 April 2016|work=The Guardian|agency=Reuters|date=18 September 2010}} The Guardian reported that around 10,000 protesters marched in London against the Pope's visit on 18 September 2010.{{cite news|author=Tracy Mcveigh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/sep/18/pope-benedict-xvi-protest |title=Protest the Pope rally sees 10,000 march through London's streets |work=The Guardian |date= 18 September 2010|access-date=16 October 2010}}

Sebastian Milbank of The Critic stated that anti-Catholic rhetoric by the New Atheist movement reached its peak during the Pope's visit, when "many mainstream newspapers (especially The Guardian) engaged in more or less naked anti-Catholic rhetoric of a sort that seemed more suited to the eighteenth century than the twenty-first".{{Cite magazine |last=Milbank |first=Sebastian |date=2022-06-15 |title=The strange afterlife of New Atheism |url=https://thecritic.co.uk/the-strange-afterlife-of-new-atheism/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |magazine=The Critic |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615082848/https://thecritic.co.uk/the-strange-afterlife-of-new-atheism/ |url-status=live }}

The BBC marked the visit with documentaries including:{{Cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/7866684/Pope-Benedict-XVI-about-to-be-put-on-trial-by-the-BBC.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Pope Benedict XVI about to be put on trial by the BBC | first=Tim | last=Walker | date=2 July 2010}}{{Cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/aug/03/bbc-papal-visit | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=BBC to mark Pope's UK visit with documentary on clerical abuse scandals | first=Tara | last=Conlan | date=3 August 2010}}

• Vatican: The Hidden World, a profile of the Vatican with unprecedented access given
• The Real Joseph Ratzinger, a papal profile
• Newman: Saint or Sinner?, a documentary about Cardinal Newman
• Benedict - Trials of a Pope, a documentary about the life of the Pope{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ttj16 |title=Benedict: Trials of a Pope |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 October 2010}}

{{Portal|United Kingdom|Catholicism|Christianity}}

• List of journeys of Pope Benedict XVI
• Roman Catholicism in the United Kingdom
• Foreign Office papal visit memo

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikinews|Pope Benedict XVI heads to the UK amid protests}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111119175338/http://thepapalvisit.co.uk/ Apostolic journey to Britain] - official website from Catholic Church in England and Wales
• [https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2010/index_regno-unito_en.htm Apostolic Journey to the United Kingdom] - official website from the Holy See

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