150,000 will pack park again for papal visit
March 16, 2010 by Guest Writer · 16 Comments
By Allan Laing
Pope Benedict XVI
The Roman Catholic Church in Scotland today confirmed that an open-air service will be held there on 16 September, attended by 150,000 faithful. It will be the highlight of Pope Benedict XVI’s single day of engagements in Scotland, part of the first papal state visit to the UK.
In 1982 the congregation totalled 300,000 and such was its tumultuous welcome that Pope John Paul Pontiff joked with them: “It was a moment, not only one moment, but several moments, when a pope became silent and you became preaching.” It took seven minutes for the cheering to end before he could start his address.
This time, the congregation is expected to be half the size, with entry restricted to those who have tickets. Pope Benedict will fly directly from Rome to Scotland for the start of his four-day state visit to Britain. He will be welcomed at Edinburgh Airport, possibly by the Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister, and then travel to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where he will meet, among others, the Queen and the First Minister.
Later, the 83-year-old pontiff will fly by helicopter to Glasgow where he will touch down at Bellahouston Park on the city’s south side.
Announcing details of the state visit in London, Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, the minister in charge of preparations for the event, said: “This is an historic visit at an important time. The Pope will receive a warm welcome from Catholics and people of all faiths. The papal visit represents an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen ties between the UK and the Holy See on action to tackle poverty and climate change, as well as the important role of faith in creating strong and cohesive communities.”
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, said he was thrilled that the Pope had accepted the UK government’s invitation. “I’m sure he will receive a heartfelt welcome from Catholics as well as members of other faiths and people of goodwill,” he said.
Pope John Paul II’s 1982 visit – which was pastoral rather than an official state one – is fondly remembered by Scots Catholics. His service at Bellahouston was one of the biggest Christian gatherings ever witnessed in the UK.
It was also notable for the then novel mode of transport in which the ageing Pontiff travelled round the park. The “Popemobile” had first appeared in 1979, when John Paul made a triumphant visit to his native Poland.
Following the failed assassination attempt in 1981, later models were modified to make them bullet- and blast-proof. The Bellahouston Popemobile was a specially-converted, armour-plated six-wheel-drive vehicle, a cross between a Range Rover and a truck which was built by British Leyland for £75,000. With “one careful owner”, just 11,000 miles on the clock, and seldom driven at more than 6mph, it was later acquired by Dumfries-shire businessman Mick Hayes, who gave it pride of place in his transport museum.
When Mr Hayes died in 2006, his family sold it at auction for £37,000, about twice what they expected. It was bought by an anonymous Irish businessman for his private collection.
Times have changed. As late as 1978, the Pope was still carried around on the sedia gestatoria, a portable “throne” borne by six stout footmen. These days the Pontiff has a range of Popemobiles to choose from. The one in use during the UK visit is likely to be a modified Mercedes Benz M Class SUV with a special glass-covered area. It is understood that the Pontiff will use it at some point during the Scottish leg of his visit, probably for a tour of the crowd at Bellahouston.
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I wonder why the Pope is not doin a chat to the Scottish Parliament, just across the road, from Holyrude Palace after chatting to The Queen.
We all know why tho, It doesnt suit Jim Murphy , imagine the Pope talking to the SNP govt, and Jim Murphy arranged it,.
That would be good for Scotland, for the Pope to chat to the parliament, so you would think that the Sectretary of state for Scotland would do something that would be good for Scotland,
He is all over the news saying how good it is etc etc , the Pope is talking to 2 parliaments in London, why not just one , and one in Scotland.
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He will not be talking in Scotland, UK because he will be speaking at our capital city London which makes more sense.
I am delighted to learn that he will meet our Queen, I am sure that will round of his trip to Britain very nicely!
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I believe the capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. Perhaps you’ve never heard of devolution. Look it up.
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The capital of the UNITED KINGDOM is London.
Look it up.
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There is no enshrined capital of the UK, you dummy! LOOK IT UP!!!!
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Murphy is not going to be around to bask in the heat of a Papal lambasting! Since he is going to be losing his seat!
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More to the point, why is there not a single liberal, tolerant, pro-science politician in Scotland willing to speak out against the state-funding – i.e. my tax – for this visit by a man who has said that gay people threaten humanity (among other unacceptable comments)?
I’ll be there. Hopefully as part of a coalition of protestors such as the LGBT community, pro-choicers, pro-stem cell research people including the seriously ill whose lives may be saved or improved by such research.
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Perhaps because we ive in a secular State and not a theocratic one there will be no widespread demonstrations against a Papal visit! Even most Scottish Catholics will ignore the Pontiffs pronouncments and carry on thier lives with as full an armoury of tools for improving the quality of thier lives that money can can buy! In fact most of the papal utterings probably turn peope off not just to catholicism but religion generally, which is no bad thing in my way of looking at things.
Look at this visit as not so much as a Pope gathering his flock but more that of a Rock Star Concert event whether you ike the music or lyrics or not!
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The Christian churches aren’t bad all the time mate-they’ll come around to homosexuality over time as well as the number of church attendees falls. (no pun)
I don’t think all the people who attend this gig will be perfect christians either, the law on pro choice is won and won’t change so don’t worry though the jury is out on some research over moral issues that affect the medics/scientists by law and their own guidelines themselves and have to be adhered to.
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Strange that article his comes under the ‘politics’ header rather than ‘entertainment’ or ‘outdoors’. Well maybe not.
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I have to question the wisdom of using taxpayers money to fund a jaunt from Italy to Scotland by the Vatican.
It is a matter of public record, that this man, who goes by the name of ‘pope’ Benedict holds what can only be described as extremist views;
He is vigorously against equality for women.
He is vigorously against equality for gay people and actively support via his office, political attempts worldwide and in Europe, to undermine equality legislation.
He is against distribution of condoms as a means of preventing the spread of the deadly HIV Virus in Africa. HIV adult prevalence is as high as 36% in some African states.
The stance of the Vatican on this issue goes against ALL scientific evidence. In 2008, some 1.4 million sub saharan African are believed to have dies from AIDS.
(Source:http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/EpiUpdate/EpiUpdArchive/2009/default.asp)
He actively works against the right of women in ANY circumstances including violent rape, to have an abortion.
So I ask do we really need yet another ill-informed religious bigot like this, coming to Scotland?
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And please , demolish NO trees for this visit.
Last time they hacked down trees far older than the Pope, for what exactly?
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Homoseuality? Big question mark as when one has a close look at Newman’s life and his friend- lying together in death!
Now the beatification!
Murphy desperate to be upsides with Tom Farmer and crawl for a papal Knighthood.
Over the centuries nothing changes,nothing all spirals.
Mind you no one,noone has to pay attention or obey what he or the Vatican puts out.That they have influence is undeniable- pity hordes of people have not a copy of m Montaigne at their bed side- even Kirkegaard no less. See Ron Ferguson in the Herald every Monday!
Remember the Enlightenment!
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There was a subsidence problem with Bellahouston Park due to old mineworkings. That was why they moved the World Pipe Band Championships to a different venue Are they willing to risk injury to the crowds who will be there to see the pope?
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2 . . single day of engagements in Scotland, part of the first papal state visit to the UK.”
That this first state visit starts in Scotland is of significant political importance.
I don’t know who was responsible for this but I thank them. (I suspect it was not a Westminster initiative!!)
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…..and the sheep will follow…….
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