Benedict XVI to make historic first papal state visit to Britain

Isabel de Bertodano and Christopher Lamb
26 September 2009

POPE BENEDICT XVI is coming to Britain next year, in what will be the first papal state visit to this country. The news first emerged this week from a source close to the Prime Minister in New York, and early confirmation from the Holy See and the papal nuncio to Great Britain was expected.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols said: “We are encouraged and pleased at the news which has emerged about the possible official visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the UK next year.”

The visit is most likely to take place in September 2010 and will include a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Queen. The last papal visit, by Pope John Paul II in 1982, was a pastoral one due to complications around the Falklands War. the rest