England Gets Ready for the Pope

As if England does not have enough preparations for the forthcoming Olympics in London, now the island has to get ready for an official papal visit, the last one occurred in 1982 by Pope John Paul II.  With the official invitation from Queen Elizabeth II extended, Pope Benedict XVI will be making a state visit to England this September.  The English Conference of Catholic Bishops have created a website concerning the visit, click here for the site.

While I do not consider myself a pope-watcher, I am interested in this particular visit because of the Pope's admiration for Cardinal John Henry Newman, whose beatification will be conducted in Coventry during the Pope's visit.

The Pope is to be received by the Queen at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, and Archbishop Rowan Williams is also scheduled to meet with Benedict XVI.

Photos from the 1982 visit, from the English Conference of Bishops website.

Pope John Paul II with Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie

A double-whammy blessing.  Show me the rubrics!

I wonder what the Prince of Wales had to say.  Bit crowded on the couch.