Latest on the Papal Visit

30 June 2010

Keeping you up-to-date with the latest news about Pope Benedict XVI visits the United Kingdom cliftondiocese.com brings you the eighth of the weekly audio updates from Monsignor Andrew Summersgill the Papal Visit Coordinator.  

Monsignor Andrew’s update comes from the official website thepapalvisit.org.uk - the place for all the latest up-to-date information about the Holy Father’s historic visit.

In this week's update direct from the desk of the person who’s in the know, Monsignor Andrew discusses his recent activity.

An overview of Monsignor Andrew’s update is below.  However it’s best to listen to the audio version which was published on Monday (28 June) for all the important information.

One significant piece of news is that the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman will now take place in Birmingham at Cofton Park, rather than in Coventry. Can you explain why this decision was made?
Monsignor Andrew: Yes, well the normal planning process for a Papal Visit is that there is an initial visit by the planners from the Vatican, and an initial programme is looked at, and the venues are looked at. We have been working on those proposals and that itinerary, and then there is always a second visit to look in more detail at the plans and to try and firm them up.

During the planning phase it became clear that it would be more appropriate to look at a venue that is much more closely associated with Cardinal Newman. The original intention had been to locate the beatification in a venue that had some experience of a Papal celebration - Coventry Airport. But as I say we came back to looking at a place that would be more explicitly connected with the ministry and with the life and the death of Cardinal Newman, and to try to weave that theme much, much more obviously and carefully into the day of the beatification. So Cofton was chosen because it is immediately adjacent to Rednal, which is the house were Cardinal Newman would go and spend some time, both to work and to have some peace and quiet. It is of course the site of his burial, and as I understand it, it would also be a place with which he personally was quite familiar, where he would have walked and visited while he was at Rednal. So it provides a really good opportunity to have Pope Benedict celebrating Cardinal Newman's beatification in a place that’s intimately connected with the Cardinal himself.

And, as we mentioned at the very start, the reconnaissance party has been over from the Vatican. We usually see that ahead of the publication of the precise line-by-line itinerary, so we’re getting close to that now aren’t we?
Monsignor Andrew: We are getting closer to that, yes, and during the visit there were some quite detailed meetings, as there would be for any visit of this sort, between the Foreign Office protocol people and representatives of the Holy See, carefully looking at the different arrangements. In terms of those arrangements where the Church is taking the lead, those arrangements where the Government is taking the lead, and all the different elements that go into making up visits like this. And it really was quite a thorough and careful examination of the plans for the whole Visit.

Is this a very significant milestone, that we are now so close to knowing exactly where Pope Benedict’s going to be and indeed when?
Monsignor Andrew: I think it is, yes, because it's a time when things begin to become fixed in stone in a way that they haven't been up until now.

Monsignor Andrew’s previous update is still online.

The official website thepapalvisit.org.uk is the best place to find out the most up-to-date information in the build up to the special time in the life of the Church in our countries.  It will also provide full coverage during the visit - a great place for you to follow the visit virtually if you are unable to be at any of the large public papal events.

You can also make your donation towards the visit at the official website.  It's simple, secure and direct.

Father Michael McAndrew is undertaking the important role of Clifton Diocese Papal Visit Coordinator.  Father Michael is ensuring the people making up the Catholic Church in the West of England have the latest news about the Holy Father’s historic visit.  Father Michael's most recent update was on cliftondiocese.com last Friday (25 June).

Father Michael will feature regularly on cliftondiocese.com where he will pass on all the latest information about the papal visit as soon as he can.  Keep checking our 'Papal Visit' page for links to all our coverage as we all look forward to welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom.