Pope Visit UK 2010: Live
(Telegraph.co.uk)
Pope Benedict XVI is in Britain from September 16-19, making the first official Papal visit to the UK for 28 years. Follow the latest news, commentary and reaction to his trip here.
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he boards the aircraft taking him to the United Kingdom from Rome's Ciampino airport Photo: REUTERS
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Pope visit: dates and itinerary
08.45: Cardinal Keith O'Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, adds to BBC Scotland: "That was unfortunate and each and every person's aides sometimes do make awkward, difficult remarks. Sometimes we make awkward, difficult remarks ourselves.
"And simply, if we do that sort of thing we apologise for it, and I'm sure Cardinal Kasper will apologise for any intemperate remarks which he made some time ago."
08:35: Rev Nichols, describes as "inexplicable" comments from Cardinal Walter Kasper, who saidBritain resembled a "Third World country".
"On face value I find the remarks of Cardinal Kasper quite inexplicable," he told BBC Radio.
"This is a very diverse country and we rejoice in that diversity. There's a great richness of people and of cultures and of contributions made in British society and they are an enrichment."
08.30: Calling all budding photographers. Are you going to see the Pope? We'd love to use some of your Pope photos in ourinteractive map of the Papal visit. As well as emailing them in tomypic@telegraph.co.uk or sending them via the Telegraph iPhone App,you can use the Twitter hashtag #TelePope to send images to us."
08.25: Stephen Hough, the classic pianist and fellow Telegraph blogger, says that "perhaps it's a good thing that Cardinal Kasper's gaffe happened when it did – before the arrival of Pope Benedict".
"His 'third World Country" comment apart, it is surely superficial to try to measure, as he did, "distance from God" or the "crisis of faith" of one country against another," he says.
"It's particularly insulting to English Catholics who, by percentage, are more loyal and committed to the practice of their faith than Italians, French or Spaniards.
"Moreover, the British commitment to charitable giving and action is exemplary, from those of faith or none, outstripping many nations with more visible nominal Christianity."
He adds: "Kasper is wide of the mark, unable to see beyond the surface flexing of our democratic and liberal muscles to the heart beneath.
08.15: Damian Thompson, the Telegraph's Blog's editor, reports that the "mood" at Edinburgh airport is one of "nerves, not excitement". He compares this to when "dignitaries and the crowds waiting to welcome Pope John Paul II at Gatwick Airport were thrilled by the historic prospect of a Pope – and a charismatic, youthful Pope at that – visiting Britain for the first time".
He continues: "Benedict XVI is gentle, frail, scholarly and troubled by the terrible scandal of paedophile priests, whose activities was still a secret in 1982.
"The British public is reluctant to foot a bill of more than £20 million for the first state visit by a pontiff to this country. Many, many prayers are being offered up by Catholics that Benedict's visit proceeds smoothly, without any PR disasters.
"But, right up until the last minute, things were going wrong. Cardinal Walter Kasper, the Vatican's ecumenical expert, backed out of the trip on Wednesday after it emerged that he had compared Britain to a "Third world country" where "aggressive new atheism" was rife.
"Kasper is not, in fact, a close ally of Pope Benedict, but the damage was done."
08.05 On Twitter, @niknightingale asks: "Who's in charge of the Catholic Church when the Pope's not in the Vatican? Is it Nick Clegg?"
07.55 The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, delivers Radio 4's Thought For The Day, saying the motto of the Pope's visit is "heart speaks unto heart".
07.45 Giles Fraser, canon chancellor at St Paul's Cathedral, tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme Cardinal Walter Kaspar's "Third World country" comments are "really quite irresponsible because to me that sounds a little bit like an attack on multiculturalism".
06.20 The Papal plane has left Rome's Ciampino airport with the Pope, about 30 senior Vatican officials and dozens of journalists on board.
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