THE POPE IN THE UK
For three days the media in the UK relayed the Pope’s words. The result was a great success, confirmed by commentators such as Clifford Longley, politicians such as Ann Widdecombe, Catholic and Anglican bishops, from Kieran Conry from the diocese of Arundel and Brighton to Christopher Hill from the diocese of Guildford.
From the Vatican. Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican Press Room, told journalists that the Pope considers important not the fact that there were big crowds but the wonderful reception he was given in the U.K. “We consider the visit a success, and not in terms of numbers. It was a success because people welcomed the Pope with joy and respect”. “The Pope responded to an invitation by the Queen and the British government”, Father Lombardi said. “And the response delivered excellent results: open and intelligent people listened with profound interest to what the Pope had to say and demonstrated joy in listening to him and to his message.” London’s protests of dissent didn’t worry the Holy Father, “it’s a sign of ongoing public debate which shows that British society is tolerant and open to different viewpoints”.
Strengthened Christianity. For Ann Widdecombe, MP in the Conservative Party, converted to Catholicism in 1993, “the Pope’s visit strengthened Christianity in this Country”. Bishop Kieran Conry, from the diocese of Brighton e Arundel said: “we are all very happy and relieved that the visit was such a success”. Expressions of gratitude were equally conveyed by the Scottish population in the words of Cardinal Keith O’Brien, archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh and President of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference, who recalled the highlights of the Pope’s visit: from the meeting with the Queen in Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, to the Mass in Bellahouston Park attended by seventy thousand pilgrims. “We will build on the legacy” of the Pope’s visit “for many years to come as we go forward affirmed so surely by you in our faith”. Cardinal O’Brien thanked the Pope “for the guidance and inspiration you offer us”.
Anglican comments. Christopher Hill, Anglican bishop of Guildford, former co-secretary of the ARCIC Commission for Catholic-Anglican dialogue, said: “The Pope’s visit will do lots of good to this country. Unfortunately, there is widespread cynicism in Great Britain, and this negatively affects people’s faith. The Pope helped us put an end to this trend in an intelligent way, explaining that the relationship between faith and reason is the foundation of social life”. “When he spoke at parliament – the bishop said – he did not blindly criticize our legislation. Rather, he chose a specific point, the relationship between faith and reason. Our country is secularized to a certain extent, and for this reason it’s important that Christians work together”. “People here – he goes on – seem to have been inoculated against traditional religion. Although they look for spirituality, they do not know where to find it and they do not look for it in the churches. That’s why alternative forms of spirituality, such as New Age, are on the rise. The Pope shows us where we can find genuine spirituality”. According to bishop Hill, “while it is true that there are major theological obstacles between the two Churches, such as the ordination of women and liberalism in sexuality, it is important for us to have good, friendly relations, as shown at Lambeth Palace, where Anglican and Catholic bishops knew each other and joked together, a reality that would have been unimaginable even just twenty years ago”.
A “mirror for the Country”. Also for Clifford Longley, consultant of the Catholic Weekly “Tablet” and BBC commentator, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United Kingdom “was a great success, much greater that expected. On the eve of the visit, everyone was worried and anxious, but the visit went very well”. He added: “The Pope was given a very warm reception. We congratulate all those involved in the visit’s preparations and the Catholic Church press office for this positive result”. Father Andrew Pinsent, research director at the Science and Religion Department at Oxford University told SIR, “The Holy Father’s gestures and smiles had a strong impact on whoever was looking at him. His body language, calm and modest, showed that he was presenting himself as the servant of truth, with a reassuring and warming smile”. Father Michael McAndrew, tasked with organizing the Pope’s visit for the diocese of Clifton said: “The Pope raised a mirror in front of our nation and showed us who we are, he was granted this welcome in recognition”.
(20 September 2010)
