Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting the United Kingdom this coming September 16-19 and will beatify Cardinal Henry John Newman in Birmingham in Great Britain. This is the first time that the Pope is going to visit the Kingdom whose majority of people are Anglicans and Protestants. The Pope’s visit has also met widespread controversy because tickets for the Pope’s events were sold and that issues of Child Abuse within the clergy in Ireland is still not resolved. Here is his message read today after the weekly general audience on the occasion of his Sept. 16-19 trip to the United Kingdom.

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
BENEDICT XVI TO THE PEOPLE OF UNITED KINGDOM
ON THE OCCASION OF HIS OFFICIAL VISIT

“I am very much looking forward to my visit to the United Kingdom in a week’s time and I send heartfelt greetings to all the people of Great Britain. I am aware that a vast amount of work has gone into the preparations for the visit, not only by the Catholic community but by the Government, the local authorities in Scotland, London and Birmingham, the communications media and the security services, and I want to say how much I appreciate the efforts that have been made to ensure that the various events planned will be truly joyful celebrations. Above all I thank the countless people who have been praying for the success of the visit and for a great outpouring of God’s grace upon the Church and the people of your nation.

It will be a particular joy for me to beatify the Venerable John Henry Newman in Birmingham on Sunday 19 September. This truly great Englishman lived an exemplary priestly life and through his extensive writings made a lasting contribution to Church and society both in his native land and in many other parts of the world. It is my hope and prayer that more and more people will benefit from his gentle wisdom and be inspired by his example of integrity and holiness of life.

I look forward to meeting representatives of the many different religious and cultural traditions that make up the British population, as well as civil and political leaders. I am most grateful to Her Majesty the Queen and to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury for receiving me, and I look forward to meeting them. While I regret that there are many places and people I shall not have the opportunity to visit, I want you to know that you are all remembered in my prayers. God bless the people of the United Kingdom!”

From the Vatican, 9 September 2010

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