Pope to take to streets of capital in first Scots papal visit for 28 years

Published on Thursday 1 July 2010 17:44

THE Pope will take part in a colourful pageant through Scotland's capital when he arrives on the feast day of one of early missionaries credited with bringing the gospel to Scotland, the Catholic Church announced yesterday.

• Pope Benedict XVI pictured in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican in 2009

After an audience with the Queen at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the pontiff will take to his Popemobile and be driven through Edinburgh behind a parade of pipebands and school children re-enacting important events in Scottish history including the story of St Ninian.

The first Papal visit to Scotland since 1982 begins on 16 September, the Feast of St Ninian- the saint who brought Christianity to Scotland in the fourth century.

Details of the Pope's trip, which is an official State Visit, were outlined by the Catholic Church yesterday. The Church also unveiled the logo which has been specially designed for the event. The logo, which bears the message: "The hope which never disappoints is Jesus Christ", has been created by the Scottish designer Gregory Millar.

Thousands of people are expected to line the Pope's route as he leaves the palace just at around 12.30pm and makes his way to the Morningside residence of Cardinal Keith O'Brien via Princes Street.

Scottish schools named after St Ninian will play a prominent role in the pageant.

After lunch with the Cardinal, Pope Benedict will travel in an escorted motorcade to Glasgow, where he will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Pope John Paul II and celebrate mass in Bellahouston Park.

There he will take to another Popemobile to meet an estimated 100,000 people, who are expected to make their way to the event.

Scottish Catholic parishes are to be given an allocation of tickets for the service. The number they receive will depend on Mass attendance figures.

However, it is hoped people of all denominations will attend the occasion.

Cardinal O'Brien, president of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, said: "I hope as many people as possible will participate in the celebrations surrounding the visit to our country of Pope Benedict, ensuring that it is a momentous and memorable day.

"Many detailed arrangements have been worked out over the past few months and a clear programme has now emerged for what I am certain will be a day of great happiness and celebration in our country. I am grateful to all those in our school and parish communities for the patience and forbearance they have shown while we have awaited final approval from the Holy See and the government for the Pope's programme."

Unlike, the 1982 Papal visit, Pope Benedict will not travel to Murrayfield where Pope John Paul II memorably addressed a youth rally.

The organisers - the UK government and the Catholic Church - decided against a similar event, because they were wary of making an already busy schedule too intense.

Although a fit octogenarian, the current Pontiff at 83 is considerably older than his predecessor was when he came to Scotland.

When John Paul II received his rapturous welcome from, the people of Scotland almost 30 years ago he was a "youthful" 58.

The organisers also recognise that the number of practising Catholics in Scotland has declined in the last three decades.

Cardinal O'Brien said: "We should remember that Apostolic visits provide a rare opportunity to strengthen our faith and to show it to others. A generation of Scots of all faiths fondly remember and benefited from the last such visit in 1982.

"As we commemorate the Feast of St Ninian who sowed the seeds of faith in our country, it is my hope that a new generation will be revitalised and strengthened in bearing witness to the message of the Gospels."