UK Papal Visit Confirmed

The Pope will visit the United Kingdom later this year, the Vatican confirmed today, ending months of speculation.

Benedict XVI told English and Welsh Catholic bishops of his plans at their end of their pilgrimage to Rome.

The Pope said he holds the Catholic people of England and Wales "in his heart" and "in his prayers".

He is expected to visit Birmingham as part of the planned beatification of Cardinal John Newman.

No exact date has been specified by the Vatican, but it is expected the visit will take place in September.

More detailed will be announced in March, according to the Catholic Communications Network.

The last UK papal tour was made by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

In a speech, published on the Vatican Radio website, Pope Benedict said: "Your country is well-known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society.

"Yet, as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs.

"In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed."

It is believed the Pope's comments were directed at opposition to controversial issues held by the church regarding gay adoption.

Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society, said: "The taxpayer in this country is going to be faced with a bill of some £20m for the visit of the Pope.

"A visit in which he has already indicated, he will attack equal rights and promote discrimination."

He said the society would mount a protest campaign made up of gay groups, victims of clerical abuse, feminists, family planning organisations and pro-abortion groups among others.

(PR/BMcC)