Pope Visit

The Pope's made history as he is the first Pontiff to be invited by the queen and government for a state visit. He arrived in Edinburgh on Thursday 16th of September with Susan Boyle singing for him in Glasgow. His 4 day trip ended in Birmingham on Sunday the 19th September.

COFTON PARK:

On Sunday the 19th September, his Holiness led an open air mass at Cofton Park, near to Rednal, the site where Cardinal Newman is buried. 

Pope Benedict held the Beatification Mass ceremony at the Park in front of 55,000 pilgrims. Beatification is a step on the road to canonisation, which is when a person is made a saint. Cardinal Newman will be the first English person to begin the journey to canonisation since the 14th century.

Cardinal Newman: Was a much-loved Victorian theologian. When Newman became a Cardinal in 1879, he had to choose a motto to go on his coat of arms. He chose the Latin words Cor ad Cor loquitur – heart speaks unto heart. Where did these words come from? At the time, Newman thought they came from the Imitation of Christ (written in the 1400s), but in fact he was mistaken – they're from St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) a French Bishop and great spiritual writer whom Newman revered. In fact, Newman chose to put a painting of St Francis above the altar in his own Chapel at the Birmingham Oratory.

ORATORY:

Pope Benedict then travelled in the popemobile along a stretch of the Hagley Road with 20,000 people there to see him. He  had a private meeting at the Oratory to bless a statue of the cardinal

There was a chance for around 400 people to go inside the Oratory after the Pope left. Inside the display includes, Newman’s Cardinal robes, mitre and crozier as well as more personal possessions such as religious medals, statues and quill pens that will reflect his spiritual, academic and everyday life in Birmingham. Situated in the Museum's gallery of religious art, the display will help explain the life and significance of one of Birmingham's most historic and world famous figures. This will now be available to see

BACK TO THE VATICAN:

He then headed onto another meeting with the bishops of England, Scotland and Wales in Oscott College to talk about the child abuse scandal and reiterate that more needs to be done to protect these children and for any future case to be passed through much quicker. He then return back to Rome with a private departure from Birmingham Airport.

**********