Due to his many commitments, the Pope will not be able to visit the United Kingdom next year, explained Austen Ivereigh, spokesman of the archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, who on 6 March had invited the Pope to England. The Holy See’s Secretariat of State says the press release issued in London has replied to the invitation of the Archbishop of Westminster, stating that “a visit of the Pope to the UK is not possible in 2007 since Pope Benedict has already assumed many commitments, including some trips abroad, for next year. No indication was made of when such a visit might be possible in future”.
