Latest on the Papal Visit

26 May 2010

Keeping you up-to-date with the latest news about Pope Benedict XVI visits the United Kingdom cliftondiocese.com brings you the third 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 the Holy Father’s address in Westminster Hall.

An overview of Monsignor Andrew’s update is below.  However it’s best to listen to the audio version which was published on Monday (24 May) for all the important information.

What can you update us on this week?
Monsignor Andrew: This week, my thoughts centred on what the Pope's going to do in Westminster Hall actually.

When I was driving around London on Saturday (21 May), I noticed that some of the roads were closed around Parliament - that's because they were rehearsing for the State Opening of Parliament which takes place tomorrow (25 May). And it just crossed my mind that it's the same group of people - the same team - organising the State Opening of Parliament who will oversee the preparations for Pope Benedict's address in Westminster Hall.

I've got to know them a little bit through some of the initial discussions we've been having and they're very much focussed first on preparing for the State Opening of Parliament and all that goes with it. But once that is completed they'll be focussed fully on Pope Benedict's address in Westminster Hall.

That's going to be quite a splendid occasion really as it will be a gathering of people from across Britain representing all the different strands of British society who will be brought together in order to listen to what Pope Benedict has to say to contemporary society.

So although it's in Westminster Hall, it's not addressed solely and exclusively to parliamentarians - in fact, properly, it's not - it's the whole of British society coming together.

One of the more significant occasions similar to this, was when Nelson Mandela came and gave a similar address - although I think on that occasion it was to parliamentarians and not the broad breadth of society that will be the case this time.

When will the minute-by-minute, line-by-line version of the itinerary be made available?
Monsignor Andrew: All being well, somewhere between six to eight weeks before Pope Benedict arrives. The Holy See's normal way of doing these things is to publish, on its own website, the line-by-line itinerary.

If people want to go to the Vatican's website and look at previous Apostolic journeys, you can see lists of where the Pope has been and the itineraries he has followed and they're quite detailed. They talk about his arrival times at places, how he moves around, the time he spends at places and they're quite interesting. We would expect to have that detail available somewhere between six and eight weeks before Pope Benedict gets here.

Monsignor Andrew’s update from last week is still online.

This year’s visit of Pope Benedict XVI will be very different to the last papal visit in 1982.   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.  The top quality website will also provide the best coverage during the visit - a great place for you to follow the visit virtually.

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

Yesterday (25 May) Father Michael McAndrew took up the important role of Clifton Diocese Papal Visit Coordinator.  Father Michael will be ensuring the people making up the Catholic Church in the West of England have the latest news about the Holy Father’s historic visit.

cliftondiocese.com brought you a special podcast recorded by Father Michael on his first day in his new role.  He told us that the young people of our diocese have been his first priority.  You can listen to Father Michael’s podcast in our report from yesterday. Father Michael talked about how useful he finds Monsignor Andrew’s weekly audio updates.

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.