The first visit to the UK by a pope for 28 years began today, with Benedict XVI officially welcomed by the Queen in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Pope said Britain was a force for good in the world, citing Britain’s involvement in ending the slave trade and its stand against “Nazi tyranny” during World War II as examples in his speech delivered at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
He cautioned against losing the values that had made Britain what it was when he added, “Today, the United Kingdom strives to be a modern and multicultural society. In this challenging enterprise, may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate.”
It is 28 years since pope John Paul II visited the UK and although the crowds were not as big as during his predecessor ’s papal visit, tens of thousands lined central Edinburgh to catch a glimpse of Benedict drive past in in his bullet-proof white Mercedes. Early estimates suggested the crowd was nearer 60,000, although the Edinburgh Council later claimed there were some 125,000 people.
While an important event for Catholics in Britain the Pope’s historic visit has not been without controversy, most notably surrounding the Roman Catholic Church’s handling of child abuse scandals. The Pope expressed his “sadness” over the way his church had handled the abuse scandals to reporters on his plane as he flew to Scotland.
In the increasingly secular society of Britain some have questioned the huge cost of the papal visit to UK tax payers, an estimated £10 million to £12 million.
Benedict ended his day in Glasgow where an estimated 65,000 people attended an open air mass he conducted in Bellahoustom Park. Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle realised a lifelong ambition when she performed in front of the congregation. “It’s a great honour to sing for the pope and it’s something I’ve always dreamed of,” Boyle said before the performance.
