Pope visits UK: Roundup

Photo: EPA

The pope’s visit to the UK started with one of his top advisors, Cardinal Walter Kasper’s tone-deaf characterization of Britain as similar to a “third world country”.   

On Thursday the pope was received by Queen Elizabeth at her official residence, Holyroodhouse in Scotland.  The Holy Father addressed a gathering the next day at Westminster Hall and participated in an ecumenical service at Westminster Abbey with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.    

British police arrested five street cleaners in a suspected terrorist plot on Friday.     

On Saturday, Pope Benedict said Mass at Westminster Cathedral and met with sex-abuse victims at the Holy See’s embassy in London.  Later in the evening, the popemobile carried the pontiff through the streets of London to Hyde Park where he led a candlelight vigil attended by tens of thousands.   

Sunday’s itinerary includes Mass with the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman who, while being a champion of both liberal and conservatives, may or may not have been gay.   Benedict is also scheduled to meet with the bishops of England, Scotland and Whales before heading back to Rome.   

Live blogging here.  

John Allen looks at the controversy that surrounds Cardinal John Henry Newman: 

Theologically, Newman is often seen as a hero to more liberal Catholics because of his emphasis on the development of doctrine, suggesting that church teaching can change, and on conscience, suggesting that individual Catholics may occasionally be compelled to challenge official formula.

Read the whole thing here.