The media is reporting that Pope Benedict XVI will make a four-day State Visit to Great Britain during September 2010. It is the Holy See that makes official announcements about visits by the Holy Father – it has not done so yet.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales, said on Wednesday 23 September:
“We are encouraged and pleased at the news which has emerged about the possible official visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom next year.
“We are glad that the Holy Father is giving such consideration to the invitations he has received from Her Majesty’s Government, which accord closely to the wishes and requests also expressed by the Bishops of England & Wales.”
Archbishop Nichols added: “The prospect of a visit by Pope Benedict fills us with joy.”
Some newspapers are reporting that the Pope Benedict will visit London, Oxford, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Also, that the Pope will beatify Cardinal Newman, 1801-1890, during his visit.
Given Pope Benedict’s lifelong interest in Cardinal Newman, going back to 1946 when he was a young seminary student in Germany, it is not unreasonable to speculate that a place connected with the life of the great English Cardinal, will be included in the itinerary.
Pope Benedict XVI has not beatified any Servant of God during his Pontificate. These have all taken place in the diocese where the Servant of God was born, lived or died – in order to emphasise their importance to the Local Church. Beatification ceremonies have taken place in Rome but only for very special reasons.
John Henry Newman was born in the City of London on 21 February 1810 and died in his room at The Oratory House, in Edgbaston, on 11 August 1890.
John Henry Newman was an undergraduate at Trinity College, Oxford, and in 1877 became the first Honorary Fellow. He was elected a Fellow of Oriel College, in 1822.
This would be the second visit of a Pope to Great Britain. Pope John Paul II made an historic Pastoral Visit to Great Britain, Friday 28 May to Wednesday 2 June 1982.
During Mass at Coventry Airport, on the Feast of Pentecost, Sunday 30 May 1982, Pope John II, said: “I cannot come to the Midlands without remembering that great man of God, that pilgrim for truth, Cardinal John Henry Newman.”
Cardinal O’Brien, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland made the following statement, on Thursday, 24 September:
“I am delighted at the prospect of a visit to Scotland by Pope Benedict XVI next year and wish to express the happiness of the Catholic community in Scotland at the news. The Scottish Bishops look forward to greeting the Holy Father in what would be the first State Visit to this country by a reigning Pope.”
Cardinal O’Brien, added: “Pope John Paul II’s 1982 visit was a pastoral one organised by the Catholic Church, whereas the proposed visit by Pope Benedict XVI would be at the invitation of the British Government.”
