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The Enduring Legacy of John Paul II’s 1982 Visit to Britain

pope's visit manchester 1982

“For the first time in history,” said Pope St. John Paul II after he stepped off the airplane, “a Bishop of Rome sets foot on English soil.”

Joanna Bogle, February 16, 2022 – National Catholic Register

In 2022, the Church in Britain marks an important milestone in its long history: This May, it will be 40 years since the first visit of a pope to Britain.

And it almost didn’t happen.

There had been months of preparation, much debate and discussion in the media, elaborate rehearsals by choirs and cathedrals and Catholic organizations, the hiring of massive venues, including London’s famous Wembley Stadium — and then the Falklands war broke out, and the whole idea of a papal visit was called into question.

Most people in Britain knew little or nothing about the Falkland Islands, a small British colony in the South Atlantic. In April 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the Falklands, swept the small British garrison aside, and announced that the islands were now in Argentinian control.  Britain responded by sending a Royal Navy task force, and effectively the British were at war.

As part of the anniversary, I have been dipping into archives and discovering the inside story of the emergency meetings and messages that went back and forth between Britain and Rome as the crisis deepened and the papal visit was at risk of being abandoned. There must have been a great deal of prayer. Pope John Paul II, of course, led the prayers for peace, and British and Argentinian bishops were summoned to Rome, where he celebrated a Mass with them all. And then came the climax of the last-minute rescue operation to save the situation: He flew to Argentina for a swiftly arranged papal visit, before going on to Britain.

It was clear throughout that the Pope was not only neutral but that he was vigorously promoting peace: This was his consistent message, and it never wavered. On this basis, he was able to fly to London’s Gatwick Airport, where, as planned in detail over the previous months, a large crowd, drawn from Catholic parishes across Surrey and Sussex, had gathered to greet him. I was among that crowd. I remember the early-morning start and the excitement as we all arrived in a chartered bus, and then the wait at the airport, where the Duke of Norfolk — by long-established tradition Britain’s senior Catholic layman — greeted the Pope at the airport steps.

This was not, it was emphasized, an official visit. This was a pastoral visit of the Pope to Britain’s Catholics. So no formal representative of the queen was at the airport, and there were no government officials. There was music, and we sang a welcoming hymn. Then there were speeches — and the history was made. The Pope summed it up when he proclaimed, “For the first time in history, a Bishop of Rome sets foot on English soil.”

In its own way, the tragedy of the Falklands War — more than 800 men, British and Argentinian, would eventually lose their lives in the fighting — helped to create a situation where old antagonisms dating back to the Reformation in Britain seemed to dwindle away. The papal visit became a true opportunity for a message of peace and goodwill, with anti-Catholicism of the old sort somehow at variance with a general recognition of the needs of the modern era. The whole visit had, in any case, been planned with ecumenical goodwill in mind, and there were some powerful moments, notably at Canterbury Cathedral, where the Pope prayed with Anglicans at the site of the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket.

And, yes, he did meet the queen — a courtesy visit, with tea at Buckingham Palace — with evident goodwill on both sides. Queen Elizabeth was wearing, I remember, a blue dress, and they were smiling and chatting as they emerged from the palace after tea. Postcards of the scene quickly became popular — I’ve still got mine.

The papal pilgrimage had the seven sacraments as its theme. At a packed Mass at Westminster Cathedral, the Pope baptized seven candidates of various ages, and then, after crossing the Thames at Lambeth Bridge, he arrived at St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark, which had been cleared of pews and filled with stretchers and wheelchairs bearing sick and disabled people from across Britain, and he administered the sacrament of the sick. And so it went on, across England and Wales and Scotland, with a penitential service, first Holy Communions, confirmations, ordinations and renewal of marriage vows. Vast crowds came, powerful moments of prayer experienced.

It was an unforgettable time. Looking back through the archives, something of the joy and excitement is still evident. So, too, are the changes since those days — the letters are typewritten (remember typewriters?) and there is just one reference to “a computer being installed” as a great innovation at one venue to store relevant information. Color photography relied entirely on film, paper and chemicals (some of the pictures have that curious greenish tinge that I remember well).  Fashions have, of course, changed: Ladies wore dresses, and there were even quite a lot of hats.

What did the papal visit achieve? A great deal. With its massive television coverage, it opened up an authentic vision of Catholic worship: from how Catholics pray to the centrality of the Eucharist. People saw what a baptism is and what is meant by the anointing of the sick. They saw the Pope as a bishop, a man in a white robe preaching about peace and the importance of family life and family prayer. Old notions of the Pope as a sinister foreign figure intent on imposing some sort of political rule were recognized as propaganda from a vanished era.

And that 1982 visit was followed, in the next century, by an official state visit by Pope Benedict XVI, where among much else, he addressed Parliament with a magnificent setting out of the respective roles of Church and state centered on a ringing call for true religious freedom. He led young people in a massive unforgettable night vigil of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in London’s Hyde Park, and he beatified John Henry Newman in a glorious Mass at Cofton Park on the outskirts of Birmingham.

The year 2022 sees another major milestone in Britain’s story: the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. She has always been clear in her commitment to the Christian faith and spoken of it as central to her life and service.

So much has changed in the 70 years of her reign. While there has been progress in fields that include health and general prosperity, there is also much that is cause for great sadness: Britain is a country with too much violent crime, many unhappy young people, a drug crisis, a worrying suicide rate, and a collapse in a general understanding of many basic moral values, including the value of human life itself.

But the Christian message is still on offer and is the message that holds the hope of renewal; and in a country with a long history, and a tradition of marking anniversaries and jubilees, 2022 brings scope for missionary activity on a new scale. We must pray the opportunity is taken up. A reminder of that historic papal visit four decades ago is part of that.

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Diocese remembers 40 years since Pope John Paul II visit to Manchester

Diocese marks 40 years since Pope John Paul II’s visit to Manchester

People from our diocese are coming together this week to celebrate the anniversary of a major moment in Manchester faith history.

On 31 st May 1982, around a quarter of a million people flocked into Manchester’s Heaton Park to catch a glimpse of Pope John Paul II.

The pope – who was later canonised as Saint John Paul II in 2014 – visited the park as part of the first ever papal visit to the UK.

Banners waved and hymns filled the air as hundreds of thousands of the faithful came together to celebrate Mass with the head of the global Catholic Church.

This historic day is one that continues to live in the memories of people across Greater Manchester, many of whom have shared their thoughts and feelings of that momentous day.

Catherine Astin was a member of the diocesan choir and arrived in the very early hours of the morning to avoid the crowds.

She said: “It was a momentous occasion being the first time a reigning Pope had visited England, seeing the Pope-mobile wander round the park was very exciting and being in the choir we thought we would be close to all the action and get a good view of the Pope, but unfortunately, we were quite a way away.

“Seeing all the crowds of people who came to worship God in the park was quite awe inspiring and the Pope was a very charismatic leader.

“It was also my birthday so it will always be an extra special day in my life.”

The day was also beautifully captured by the Parish of St Margaret Clitherow in Rochdale when one parishioner reminisced about the day in a parish magazine.

“That moment and that day will stay with me as long as I live.”

The parishioner – Connie Hunt – wrote about spending the night under the stars to be ready for the Pope’s arrival.

She said: “There was a real sense of excitement. We were, after all, about to see history in the making – the first ever pope to visit these shores. I well remember feeling elated and proud to be Catholic.

“It was a clear summer’s night, so we literally slept under the stars. I don’t remember sleeping much though as we spent the night chatting, praying, singing hymns, and watching the new arrivals.

“I particularly relished being among so many young people and I can remember feeling so proud of our own youth from the Sacred Heart church.”

Connie goes on to to describe the buzz of the crowds the next day as the Pope’s helicopter appeared overhead and the famous Pope-mobile made its way into the park from nearby Nazareth House:

“He was here at last! He was waving and we were all waving back. The park was a sea of yellow and white papal flags. Also to be seen were a great number of red and white Polish flags.”

The day was additionally special as 12 men were ordained as priests during the Mass celebrated by the Holy Father.

Connie said: “It was a very moving moment when 12 young men came forward and lay prostrate before His Holiness as they made their final preparations for ordination to the priesthood.

“In his homily, Pope John Paul told them: “Realise how closely the bond of priesthood unites you to Christ. You must be men of God, His close friends.””

To mark the 40 th anniversary of this wonderful day, the Prestwich parish of Our Lady of Grace – the parish in which Heaton Park is located – will hold a celebratory Mass at Our Lady of Grace church, at 7pm on Tuesday 31st May.

The Diocese of Salford are also discussing ideas to recycle the bullet-proof glass from the event – which took place the year after the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II – into a lasting reminder of the occasion.

Connie finished: “That moment and that day will stay with me as long as I live. It was a great privilege to have been there.

“From time to time, I go back to Heaton Park and standing by the specially erected papal monument, the whole experience comes back to me.

“We were certainly truly blessed on that day in 1982.”

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Pope Saint John Paul II celebrates Mass with priestly ordinations in Heaton Park, Manchester in 1982.

My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,

I greet you in the joy of the Holy Spirit! The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church is for every Christian a time of celebration and an opportunity for spiritual renewal. How pleased I am to be here in Manchester, to celebrate this great feast and to pray with you that the life-giving power of the Divine Paraclete will help the members of this Church to carry out their responsibilities as “a new creation.”

To be a new creation is the vocation of all the baptized . Saint Paul reminds us of this in the words of today’s second reading: “. . . for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here” ( 2 Cor . 5, 17). We must therefore give up the old order of the flesh, of sinfulness and living for ourselves. We must live “for him who died and was raised to life” for us ( Ibid . 5, 15).

Every believer is called to discipleship. By steadfastness in prayer by compassion for those in need, by concern for justice in human affairs, Christians exercise the priesthood of the faithful, a living fellowship in Christ offering praise and glory to God our Father.

But if we can apply the attributes of this new order of creation to the priesthood of the faithful, how much more compelling is their application to the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood , which is directed towards the sanctification of God’s people.

My dear brothers, candidates for the priesthood: for you Christ today renews his prayer to the Father: “Consecrate them in truth, your word is truth” ( Io . 17, 17). This consecration makes you even more a “new creation”. It sets you apart from the world, so that you may be completely dedicated to God.

It gives you the mission to act as Christ’s ambassadors in reconciling the world to God . It was for this purpose that Jesus came from the Father and was born of the Virgin Mary. And it is this same mission which Christ entrusted to his disciples: “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth” ( Ibid . 17, 18).

At this important moment of your lives I say to you young men: Realize how deeply Jesus desires you to be consecrated as he himself is consecrated. Realize how closely the bond of priesthood joins you to Christ. Be worthy of the privilege you are going to receive of bringing God’s gifts of love to his people and offering to God the people’s prayerful response.

You must be men of God, his close friends . You must develop daily patterns of prayer, and penance must be a regular part of your life. Prayer and penance will help you to appreciate more deeply that the strength of your ministry is found in the Lord and not in human resources.

England is fortunate to have a distinguished legacy of holy priests . Many of her sons left home and country in penal times to prepare for the priesthood. After ordination, they returned to England to face danger and often death for their faith. Manchester is rightly proud of its great martyr, Saint Ambrose Barlow, the Benedictine. Catholic Lancashire honours its other martyrs: Saint Edmund Arrowsmith and all those saints called “John”: John Almond, John Plessington, John Rigby, John Southworth. But in addition to your martyrs, rejoice in the memory of many holy priests from this region who lived each day the fullness of their vocation. Near here, in Sutton, St Helens, is the tomb of Blessed Dominic Barberi, the Passionist from Italy who received John Henry Newman into the Church. He is but one example of the countless other priests who continue to serve as models of holiness for the clergy of today.

You must try to deepen every day your friendship with Christ. You must also learn to share the hopes and the joys, the sorrows and the frustrations of the people entrusted to your care . Bring to them Christ’s saving message of reconciliation. Visit your parishioners in their homes. This has been a strength of the Church in England. It is a pastoral practice that should not be neglected.

And do hot forget all those with special needs, particularly those who are in prison, and their families. In the Gospel, Christ identifies himself with prisoners when He says: “I was in prison and you visited me.” And remember, that He did not specify whether they were innocent or guilty.

Because you represent Christ, no one can be excluded from your pastoral love. I ask you, together with your brother priests, to take my greetings to all the prisons of Britain. Especially to the large one in Manchester. Through you, Jesus Christ wants to offer peace of conscience and the forgiveness of all sins. Through you, Jesus Christ wants to enkindle hope anew in your hearts.

Through you, Jesus Christ wants to love those for whom he died. Teach all your people that you believe in that faithful love by the fidelity with which you live your own life. You must proclaim the Gospel with your life. When you celebrate the sacraments at the decisive moments of their lives, help them to trust in Christ’s promised mercy and compassion. When you offer the redeeming Sacrifice of the Eucharist, help them to understand the need for transforming this great love into works of charity.

My brothers, be aware of the effect on others of the witness of lives . Your ordination is a source of consolation for those who have already given many years of priestly service, large numbers of whom are present today. The Lord is grateful for their labour and today he blesses them with the assurance that he will continue to provide for the future of the Church. May all these priests be renewed in the joyful enthusiasm of their early call, and may they continue to give generously of themselves in Christ’s priestly work of reconciling the world to the Father.

I know of the many priests who could not be here because of old age or infirmity. To them also I send the expression of my love in Christ Jesus. Their prayers, their wisdom, their suffering are rich treasures for the Church, from which will come forth abundant blessings.

And what of your contemporaries? Undoubtedly your acceptance of Christ’s mission is a clear witness for those who are not yet sure what the Lord wants of them . You show them that being ordained for God’s service is a noble vocation that demands faith, courage and self-sacrifice. I am sure that such qualities are to be found among the young people of Great Britain. To them I say: Be certain that Christ’s call to the priesthood or religious life is addressed to some of you. Be certain that if you listen to his call and follow him in the priesthood or religious life, you will find great joy and happiness. Be generous, take courage and remember his promise: “My yoke is easy and my burden light” ( Matth . 11, 30).

Finally, I wish to greet the parents and families of those about to be ordained. I say in the name of the Church, in the company of my fellow-Bishops, thank you for your generosity. It was you who brought these men into the world. It was you who first gave them the faith and the values that have helped to lead them to God’s altar today. The Church, too, must be a family , bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity, supporting each other and sharing with each other the individual gifts given by God. Every priest relies on the faith and talents of his parish community. If he is wise he will not only know the joy of dispensing God’s grace, but also of receiving it abundantly through his parishioners as well. The partnership between priests and people is built upon prayer, collaboration and mutual respect and love . That has always been the tradition of these islands. May it never be lost.

Through this ordination the Lord really and truly continues the work of his “new creation.” And he continues to send forth his message over all the earth and to speak personally to those who will be ordained: “ ‘Go now to those to whom I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you’ – it is the Lord who speaks!” ( Ier . 1, 7-8). Amen.

© Copyright 1982 – Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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Salford Cathedral

40th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s Visit to Manchester

Harold Riley Picture Pope (1)

On the 31 May 1982, St John Paul II, Pope from 1978-2005, visited Manchester. Today marks the 40th Anniversary of this very special day.

One year to the day since the failed assassination attempt took place against him, the enduringly popular pontiff celebrated Mass in Heaton Park on a monumental outdoor altar constructed for the occasion. More than 250,000 people attended this Mass! You can see some pictures from the visit here .

Pictured in this article are some of the paintings created by famous Salford artist Harold Riley to commemorate the visit.

pope's visit manchester 1982

Our Cathedral Treasurer Catherine Astin remembers the day the Pope came to Manchester:

I was in the Diocesan choir and I do remember that a few of us decided to get there early, really early, about midnight because we wanted to get a parking space and we thought thousands of people would be coming – which they did, but not at midnight! We was really cold and we were laying across chairs that had been put out, luckily I had a sheepskin coat and me and a friend in the choir were huddled together in my coat.

  It was a momentous occasion being the first time a reigning Pope had visited England, seeing the Pope-mobile wander round the park was very exciting and being in the choir we thought we would be close to all the action and get a good view of the Pope, but unfortunately we were quite a way away – it was a good job there were a lot of us and we were in good voice!  Seeing all the crowds of people who came to worship God in the park was quite awe inspiring and the Pope was a very charismatic leader.

  It was also my birthday so it will always be an extra special day in my life.

Thanks to Cath for this powerful account. I’m sure these emotions were shared by many in our parish and across the North West.

pope's visit manchester 1982

St John Paul II also ordained 12 priests during the Mass, saying:

You must be men of God, his close friends. You must develop daily patterns of prayer, and penance must be a regular part of your life.

This is a message that extends beyond our clergy, to all of us in the Church: to treat God with the care and attention we give to family and friends. St John Paul II, pray for us!

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pope's visit manchester 1982

The day the Pope came to town

POPE John Paul II made history the day he came to Heaton Park 23 years ago, on 31 May 1982.

  • 16:39, 21 MAY 2005
  • Updated 19:35, 21 JAN 2013

POPE John Paul II waves to the crowds during his visit to Heaton Park.

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He flew in exactly a year after he was shot in St Peter's Square by Mehmet Ali Agcha in an audacious assassination attempt.

And folk from Middleton and North Manchester made sure to give the Polish Pope a real northern welcome.

It was the first visit by a pope to Britain and a throng of 250,000 people gathered at the big North Manchester park to hear the Pontiff say Mass in a specially constructed open air altar.

The visit proved a security nightmare for Greater Manchester Police.

A complete exclusion zone was placed around the park and the neighbourhood surrounding it, banning the use of vehicles as a measure to prevent a possible car bomb attack.

The whole visit had been thrown into doubt too because of the growing crisis in the Falklands, The previous month Argentina had invaded the British islands in the South Atlantic and the Government ordered a task force to sail to the Falklands to win back the islands.

Throughout May battles had raged in the air, at sea and on the Falkland Islands themselves to regain the territory - at just the time when the Pope was making final preparations to travel to North Manchester. Diplomacy saved the day and the Papal visit went ahead. Cancellation would have cost the tax payer millions.

The crowds had begun to gather the previous day and many camped overnight in Heaton Park to ensure a vantage point to remember when the Pope arrived.

As dawn broke a carnival atmosphere joined with a sense of historic expectancy as early morning sun bathed the park and the giant podium that had been constructed especially for the visit.

The the sound of a helicopter quietened the crowd. It was the Pope, right on time, landing at nearby Nazareth House at 8.10am. As he stepped down from the aircraft he was greeted by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Salford, the Rt Rev Thomas Holland and the auxilliary Bishop Geoffrey Burke.

He then met VIPs, including the then Chief Constable of Greater Manchester James Anderton and the Chief Rabbi Sir Emmanuel Jacobovits. The Pope's special talent was connecting to the common people. He greeted Nazareth House residents and nuns, and had warm words for an on-duty policewoman, as well as for some members of the Press who had been allowed into Nazareth House.

The Pope then climbed into the converted British Leyland bullet-proof vehicle, nicknamed the Popemobile, for his journey to the hundreds of thousands who waited in Heaton Park.

As he stepped onto the red carpet leading to the giant podium where he would say Mass a choir of 3,000 sang Behold a Great High Priest as the Holy Father made his way to the 20ft tall dais, covered with 1,600 sq metres of champagne coloured carpet.

Banner-waving crowds waved their messages at the Pope, ranging from a respectful "Welcome Holy Father" to a more down to earth "Ow Do John Paul", from a crowd of worshippers from Langley.

Then the Pope celebrated Mass, which lasted three hours, and ordained priests. Before leaving the park Pope John Paul was asked to plant a commemorative tree before his journey back to Nazareth House, where he ate a lunch of local black pudding, roast sirloin, with apple tart and cheese and biscuits, washed down with Polish beer.

He prayed in the chapel at Nazareth House and held talks with some of the VIPs, including the Chief Rabbi, before flying off to his next destination, York.

It was a visit everyone who witnessed will remember for the rest of their lives.

There was local pride for groups from Middleton and North Manchester during the historic visit.

Mount Carmel Scouts - 53rd Manchester Scouts - the oldest Catholic scout group in the world, were chosen to stand as the Pope's guard of honour on his way to Heaton Park. They became the only scout group in the world eligible to wear the Papal colours on their neckerchief.

Six guides from the then Middleton West Guide group, baseed on Thirlmere Road, Langley, had been selected to join other Guides from Greater Manchester to form a guard of honour as the Pope arrived at Heaton Park.

Groups of local campers at the park included worshippers from St Peter's, Blackley, and St Margaret Mary's.

The chalice to used for Holy Communion by the Pope during his Mass at Cardiff, the last stop of his British tour, was designed by a Middleton student, Bernadette Varilone, a silversmithing student at De La Salle College, Middleton, who wasalso a volunteer steward at the Heaton Park event.

Emergency services reported a total of 569 injuries at Heaton Park during the hsitoric event, including 11 suspected heart attacks.

Operation clean-up swept into operation 24 hours after the Pope had left Heaton Park. A total of 40 men were employed to clear away the rubbish, which was estimated to take upto five days.

It took six weeks to remove all the scaffolding and the podium.

A few weeks after his visit the Pope sent a telegram to Bishop Thomas Holland saying: "With many joyful memories of my visit to Britain I wish to assure you and your people of my deep appreciation of the warm welcome accorded to me in Manchester. Cordially thankful for this abundant outpouring of love in Christ I impart to you and your diocese my Apostolic Blessing". It was signed Cannes Paulus PP II.

A year after the historic visit a 16.5 ton granite boulder was placed at the site where Pope John Paul II said Mass to 250,000 people in Heaton Park. It was unveiled by Bishop Holland and the inscription contains an extract from the Pope's speech to the huge congregation.

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pope's visit manchester 1982

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A very different papal visit from that of John Paul II in 1982

London letter: the catholic church says that security rules will make it difficult for the faithful to attend, writes mark hennessy….

LONDON LETTER: The Catholic Church says that security rules will make it difficult for the faithful to attend, writes MARK HENNESSY

JUST HOURS away from the beginning of Pope Benedict’s visit to England and Scotland, the Catholic Church is nervous.

His enemies believe his visit should be the stage for mass protests against the Vatican; his supporters hope for a show of support. Mostly, however, the British public is meeting the occasion of Pope Benedict’s visit with indifference.

Despite months of planning for the worst, British police forces now seem confident that the visit will not be targeted by unruly demonstrators, though security will not be relaxed until after his aircraft has taken off for home.

The invitation to make a state visit to the UK was made to Pope Benedict last year by the former prime minister, Presbyterian Gordon Brown, when he was received at the Vatican; though it was always believed that Mr Brown’s predecessor, Tony Blair, who converted to Catholicism after he quit Downing Street, had wanted to host a Papal visit during his time in office.

Much has changed since Pope John Paul II came to the UK on a pastoral visit in 1982 during the Falklands War. He spent six days being greeted like a rock-star as he travelled throughout Britain. In Liverpool, one million lined the seven-mile route from the city’s airport to its Anglican and Catholic cathedrals. Three hundred and fifty thousand came out in Coventry; 200,000 in Manchester; and 190,000 in York.

The 1982 visit faced its own crises. Indeed, it only went ahead after a desperate effort by the Archbishop of Liverpool to persuade the Pope not to cancel everything four days out because of his anger at the British invasion of the Falklands and his refusal to meet with then-British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, as protocol would have allowed. In the end, the two did not meet.

However, 1982 is not just a foreign land for the Catholic Church, but also for the Church of England and many other Christian religions. The UK has in the three decades since become an increasingly secular society, less inclined to listen to religious figures, and where those who still see themselves as believers increasingly adopt an a la carte attitude to their faith.

An opinion poll published by the Catholic magazine, The Tablet, earlier this month found that just a quarter of those polled from the general population, not just Catholics, actively supported the idea of a state visit for Pope Benedict, while only 24 per cent believed the Catholic Church is a force for good. Only 36 per cent of those polled strongly agreed that religions of any kind are a force for good.

Pope Benedict is not Pope John Paul, who arrived in England as the survivor of an assassination attempt. Neither does he enjoy the communication skills possessed by the Polish pope. He has been damaged in the public eye by his handling of child-abuse cases involving priests – the ultimate responsibility for which lies at the door of his better-loved predecessor.

Nevertheless, Benedict has been pope for five years, and, yet, The Tablet’s opinion poll showed that more people recognised Prince Charles, X Factor entertainment guru Simon Cowell and England soccer manager Fabio Capello than the pope; though he did better than the Church of England Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who was identified by just 50 per cent of those polled.

In a letter to the Guardian yesterday, opponents of the visit, including actor Stephen Fry, academic Richard Dawkins and writer Terry Prachett, insisted the pope should not be given the honour of a state visit.

They argued that the Vatican is responsible for opposing the distribution of condoms, so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of Aids, and promoting segregated education. It had sought to deny abortion to “even the most vulnerable women”; opposes equal rights for gay people; and failed to address “the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation”. “In any case, we reject the masquerading of the Holy See as a state and the pope as a head of state as merely a convenient fiction to amplify the international influence of the Vatican,” said the group.

Questioned about the last-minute preparations on Tuesday, leading British Catholic Chris Patten, who is Prime Minister David Cameron’s liaison for the visit with the church, denied responsibility for the crowds that will greet the pope. Such are matters for the Catholic Church, he was quick to point out.

The crowds will be a fraction of those of 1982. The church has grumbled that security rules have made it tougher than it should be for the faithful to attend.

Patten’s quick footwork in front of the cameras tell much about this visit: in 1982, many wanted to claim credit later; in 2010, it is about wanting to avoid blame.

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Related articles, council members angry over bill for pope, music for pope's masses will be by english composers, pope to ordain deaf deacon in manchester, vatican changes pope's visit plans, tor all those lancashire saints', manchester plans for a million crowd.

HEATON PARK, the venue for the Pope's visit to Manchester on May 31, is reputed to be the largest park in Europe. This may or may not be true. What is certain is that the organisers are preparing for up to a million people to be present within its boundaries when the Pope arrives. With such enormous numbers expefted, it is small wonder that Manchester was already buzzing with preparatory activity when I visited the site last week. In the Papal visit office next door to Salford Cathedral, I found the coordinator, Mgr John Allen, in earnest conversation with the Press officer Fr Gerard Meath OP, while in the background two girls on hire from Manpower Services Commission worked alongside a diocesan employee preparing invitations for all those in the diocese•with papal honours. A secretary answered the telephone, then interrupted Mgr Allen: "It's the city health authorities wanting to know how many people died while the Pope was at Phoenix Park, Dublin". "One", came the assured reply. On the wall was an immense, detailed plan of the whole site. On paper it coulehave been a property developer's dream for the future of Milton Keynes, so I was more than grateful when Fr Meath agreed to take me to Heaton Park, where I could see it all in three dimensions. Heaton Park is in the suburbs to the north west of the city centre. It is in an ideal position, being near 17 major roads from various parts of the North West of England, including the M62 trans Pennine motorway from Liverpool to Leeds, and the M6I from Preston. Because of the very large number of vehicles expected to converge on Manchester, there will be car and coach parks available in most town centres in Greater Manchester, and shuttle buses will run to Heaton Park. Thanks to cooperation between Greater Manchester Transport and British Rail, special transport will be available by bus and train throughout the night of 30-31 May, from about 8 pm onwards. There will be a special train service between Manchester Victoria and Bury, operating at frequent intervals through the night. Passengers should alight at Bowker Vale station. A special timetable has been prepared with full details of bus and train. services for they occasion. 1 t is alie'ailjr—dvail able at Greater Manchester rfilway stations, and from Greater Manchester Transport, at 2 Devonshire Street North, Manchester M12 6JS. Public attendance at Heaton Park will be on a first come first served basis. There are three major areas of the park allocated to the public, and the fencing for all these areas was already in position when I visited the park. The main area gives a full view of the altar where the Pope will say Mass and ordain priests. Up to 450,000 people will be accommodated in this area. Further east, 200,000 people will be able to watch the Mass on a giant television screen measuring 80 feet by 40 feet. A third area will contain up to 350,000 people. Everyone will be able to hear the Mass on the public address system. Likewise all will be able to_receive Communion, and will_ see the Pope on his drive through the park. Each of the three major areas has been divided into a series of enclosures, each one able to accommodate 1,000 persons. Seating will not be provided, so the organisers are advising people to bring their own camp stools. Mgr Allen is adamant that there will beplenty of room for everyone to sit, stand up, stretch their legs, and even walk about. The podium was already taking shape amidst the scaffolding. Together with the enclosures, it has been designed by Patrick Bishop and Partners. Underneath the altar will be a vesting and rest room. A specially built glass screen, made of 12mm thick armourplate toughened glass and supplied by Pilkington's, will protect the Pope from the wind. From the Catholic point of view, as well as the geographical, Heaton Park provides an ideal site. Nazareth House and St Peter's Catholic school face right on to the Park, and work is in hand at the former of these two sites preparing a helicopter landing area. The Pope's helicopter will arrive at Nazareth House from Liverpool at 8.45 am. By that time, the park gates will have been open for more than 12 hours, so the crowds should be assembled. He will be driven into the park via the imposing Grand Lodge entrance, with its classical portico. After a drive round the main area near the podium, he will dismount and ascend the steps of the podium. The Mass will begin at 9.15, and will last for about two hours, including the ordinations. Afterwards, the Pope will tour the rest of the park in the Popemobile. With the possibility of a million people on site. there will be 30.000 stewards in attendance "The Anglican stewards have volunteered to serve where the Pope cannot be seen, so that Catholic stewards will be able to see him," said Fr Meath. There will be about 750 handicapped people at the Mass, each allowed one person in attendance. The choir will be made up of singers from the Salford, Shrewsbury and Lancaster dioceses, and will be 3,000 voices strong. In addition there will be two brass bands and an organ. More than 4,000 priests will be available to distribute Communion. Heaton Hall, which is in the grounds of the park, will become a sort of field hospital for the day, with 50 beds available for men and 50 for women. I left the site with the fervent hope that the weather remains clement. The thought of a million people tramping through the mud is not an inviting spectacle. Christopher Rails

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The Enduring Legacy of John Paul II’s 1982 Visit to Britain

“For the first time in history,” said Pope St. John Paul II after he stepped off the airplane, “a Bishop of Rome sets foot on English soil.”

Pope John Paul II shakes hands with Queen Elizabeth II as he leaves Buckingham Palace after their historic May 28, 1982, meeting in London.

In 2022, the Church in Britain marks an important milestone in its long history: This May, it will be 40 years since the first visit of a pope to Britain.

And it almost didn’t happen.

There had been months of preparation, much debate and discussion in the media, elaborate rehearsals by choirs and cathedrals and Catholic organizations, the hiring of massive venues, including London’s famous Wembley Stadium — and then the Falklands war broke out, and the whole idea of a papal visit was called into question.

Most people in Britain knew little or nothing about the Falkland Islands, a small British colony in the South Atlantic. In April 1982, Argentinian forces invaded the Falklands, swept the small British garrison aside, and announced that the islands were now in Argentinian control.  Britain responded by sending a Royal Navy task force, and effectively the British were at war.

As part of the anniversary, I have been dipping into archives and discovering the inside story of the emergency meetings and messages that went back and forth between Britain and Rome as the crisis deepened and the papal visit was at risk of being abandoned. There must have been a great deal of prayer. Pope John Paul II, of course, led the prayers for peace, and British and Argentinian bishops were summoned to Rome, where he celebrated a Mass with them all. And then came the climax of the last-minute rescue operation to save the situation: He flew to Argentina for a swiftly arranged papal visit, before going on to Britain.

It was clear throughout that the Pope was not only neutral but that he was vigorously promoting peace: This was his consistent message, and it never wavered. On this basis, he was able to fly to London’s Gatwick Airport, where, as planned in detail over the previous months, a large crowd, drawn from Catholic parishes across Surrey and Sussex, had gathered to greet him. I was among that crowd. I remember the early-morning start and the excitement as we all arrived in a chartered bus, and then the wait at the airport, where the Duke of Norfolk — by long-established tradition Britain’s senior Catholic layman — greeted the Pope at the airport steps.

This was not, it was emphasized, an official visit. This was a pastoral visit of the Pope to Britain’s Catholics. So no formal representative of the queen was at the airport, and there were no government officials. There was music, and we sang a welcoming hymn. Then there were speeches — and the history was made. The Pope summed it up when he proclaimed , “For the first time in history, a Bishop of Rome sets foot on English soil.”

In its own way, the tragedy of the Falklands War — more than 800 men, British and Argentinian, would eventually lose their lives in the fighting — helped to create a situation where old antagonisms dating back to the Reformation in Britain seemed to dwindle away. The papal visit became a true opportunity for a message of peace and goodwill, with anti-Catholicism of the old sort somehow at variance with a general recognition of the needs of the modern era. The whole visit had, in any case, been planned with ecumenical goodwill in mind, and there were some powerful moments, notably at Canterbury Cathedral , where the Pope prayed with Anglicans at the site of the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket.

And, yes, he did meet the queen — a courtesy visit, with tea at Buckingham Palace — with evident goodwill on both sides. Queen Elizabeth was wearing, I remember, a blue dress, and they were smiling and chatting as they emerged from the palace after tea. Postcards of the scene quickly became popular — I’ve still got mine.

The papal pilgrimage had the seven sacraments as its theme. At a packed Mass at Westminster Cathedral , the Pope baptized seven candidates of various ages, and then, after crossing the Thames at Lambeth Bridge, he arrived at St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark, which had been cleared of pews and filled with stretchers and wheelchairs bearing sick and disabled people from across Britain, and he administered the sacrament of the sick. And so it went on, across England and Wales and Scotland, with a penitential service, first Holy Communions, confirmations, ordinations and renewal of marriage vows. Vast crowds came, powerful moments of prayer experienced.

It was an unforgettable time. Looking back through the archives, something of the joy and excitement is still evident. So, too, are the changes since those days — the letters are typewritten (remember typewriters?) and there is just one reference to “a computer being installed” as a great innovation at one venue to store relevant information. Color photography relied entirely on film, paper and chemicals (some of the pictures have that curious greenish tinge that I remember well).  Fashions have, of course, changed: Ladies wore dresses, and there were even quite a lot of hats.

What did the papal visit achieve? A great deal. With its massive television coverage, it opened up an authentic vision of Catholic worship: from how Catholics pray to the centrality of the Eucharist. People saw what a baptism is and what is meant by the anointing of the sick. They saw the Pope as a bishop, a man in a white robe preaching about peace and the importance of family life and family prayer. Old notions of the Pope as a sinister foreign figure intent on imposing some sort of political rule were recognized as propaganda from a vanished era.

And that 1982 visit was followed, in the next century, by an official state visit by Pope Benedict XVI, where among much else, he addressed Parliament with a magnificent setting out of the respective roles of Church and state centered on a ringing call for true religious freedom. He led young people in a massive unforgettable night vigil of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in London’s Hyde Park, and he beatified John Henry Newman in a glorious Mass at Cofton Park on the outskirts of Birmingham.

The year 2022 sees another major milestone in Britain’s story: the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. She has always been clear in her commitment to the Christian faith and spoken of it as central to her life and service.

So much has changed in the 70 years of her reign. While there has been progress in fields that include health and general prosperity, there is also much that is cause for great sadness: Britain is a country with too much violent crime, many unhappy young people, a drug crisis, a worrying suicide rate, and a collapse in a general understanding of many basic moral values, including the value of human life itself.

But the Christian message is still on offer and is the message that holds the hope of renewal; and in a country with a long history, and a tradition of marking anniversaries and jubilees, 2022 brings scope for missionary activity on a new scale. We must pray the opportunity is taken up. A reminder of that historic papal visit four decades ago is part of that. 

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Joanna Bogle

Joanna Bogle Joanna Bogle is the author of some 20 books, including several historical biographies and A Book of Seasons and Celebrations with information on traditions and customs marking the Church year. Her most recent book is John Paul II: Man of Prayer with colleague Clare Anderson, exploring the spiritual life of St. John Paul the Great. She broadcasts regularly with EWTN and initiated popular "Catholic History Walks" around London.

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POPE BEGINS VISIT TO BRITAIN TODAY

Special to the New York Times

  • May 28, 1982

POPE BEGINS VISIT TO BRITAIN TODAY

Pope John Paul II will arrive in London soon after dawn on Friday for a six-day visit to a country utterly preoccupied with war rather than spiritual pursuits.

For British Roman Catholics, the long-planned visit, the first ever by a reigning Pope, is a reward for dogged perseverance during the weeks when it seemed inevitable that the conflict over the Falkland Islands would force cancellation of the trip. For the British Government it is a diplomatic triumph, because cancellation would have been cited by Argentina as ''proof'' that Britain was an aggressor.

As part of the bargaining with the Vatican, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher agreed that neither she nor other members of her Government would meet the Pope during his stay. And he agreed to visit Argentina on June 11 and 12 to show impartiality.

But the Pope will spend 30 minutes with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace Friday in a meeting redolent of symbolism past and present. The Queen's second son, Prince Andrew, is a helicopter pilot on the aircraft carrier Invincible in the South Atlantic, and her ancestor, the Elizabeth I, was excommunicated in 1570 by one of John Paul's predecessors, Pope Pius V. Service at Canterbury

For the Pope, the visit is both pastoral and ecumenical. He will tend to his flock, Britain's five million Roman Catholics, and he will seek to promote Christian unity by taking part in a service Friday in Canterbury Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican Church. But he is also expected to appeal for peace in the Falklands, and his every utterance will be scrutinized in the context of the war.

The Pope is reported to have remarked to a friend this week that ''a doctor must visit his patients when they are sick.'' ''Inevitably this visit will have echoes and an atmosphere different from other visits,'' said Basil Cardinal Hume, the Archbishop of Westminster. ''It may perhaps be more sober and reflective than visits to other countries. Although pastoral, it cannot be divorced from the events which involve our nation; it cannot be entirely other-worldly.''

John Paul is to visit London, York, Canterbury, Coventry, Liverpool and Manchester in England, Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland and Cardiff in Wales. The final official schedule, the 42d revision, shows more than 50 events, including seven masses and about 20 speeches. Masses to Be Held in Parks

The largest turnouts are expected at Heaton Park in Manchester on Monday and at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow on Tuesday. Hundreds of thousands of Catholics, many of them of Irish descent, are expected to attend masses in the parks.

The Pope is not only prepared to speak in English at most stops, but he has also learned a few words of Gaelic for use in Scotland and has even sought advice on the differences between Scots Gaelic and that used in Ireland, which he visited three years ago.

Because of the attack on the Pope in Rome last year and the attempted attack in Portugal on May 12, the British police have mounted a security operation surpassing anything in this country's history. Extremist Protestant groups opposed to the visit, some of them linked to terrorists in Northern Ireland, are a cause for worry, and a large number of policemen will be armed. Called 'Insulting Intrusion'

The Rev. Jack Glass, one of the most vocal opponents of the visit, plans to stage protests at each of the Pope's stops. He said today that the journey ''is an unwarranted distraction and insulting intrusion into this nation's sorrow'' over British deaths in the Falklands.

Catholicism was established in Britain in Anglo-Saxon times, initially through the efforts of Irish monks such as St. Columba, who founded a monastery on the island of Iona, off Scotland, in 563. In 597 Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine of Canterbury to England as a missionary and he established himself as the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

By 1500 nearly everyone in Britain was a Catholic. But in 1534 Henry VIII formally broke with Rome over the refusal of Pope Clement VII to permit him to divorce Katharine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. The monasteries and abbeys were dissolved and, in many cases, pillaged. Protestantism became the official religion, with the King as the head of the Church of England.

By 1780 there were only about 70,000 Catholics in a population of eight million. But refugees from the French Revolution and from the famine in Ireland, together with English converts, gradually swelled the ranks of the church, which now accounts for about 10 percent of the population in England and Wales and 17 percent in Scotland. Slippage Among Catholics

British Catholics are much more assiduous churchgoers than British Protestants, and on an average Sunday as many Catholics are in church as Protestants. But attendance at mass among those between 15 and 30 years of age is declining sharply, about two-thirds of British Catholics now marry Protestants and a survey by the University of Surrey in 1980 showed that most Catholics here approved of contraception, divorce and remarriage and premarital sex.

For centuries English Catholics were persecuted, and as late as the 19th century they were excluded from the army and navy, from Parliament and from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. But some of the great noble families clung to their religion, such as the Howards, whose current head, Miles Francis Stapleton FitzalanHoward, the 17th Duke of Norfolk, the premier Duke or Earl of England, will greet the Pope at Gatwick Airport on Friday morning.

Today 70 members of the House of Lords are Catholics, as are 40 of the 635 members of the House of Commons.

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO GREAT BRITAIN

HOLY MASS WITH PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

Manchester Monday, 31 May 1982 

My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,

1. I greet you in the joy of the Holy Spirit! The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church is for every Christian a time of celebration and an opportunity for spiritual renewal. How pleased I am to be here in Manchester, to celebrate this great feast and to pray with you that the life-giving power of the Divine Paraclete will help the members of this Church to carry out their responsibilities as “a new creation.”

To be a new creation is the vocation of all the baptized . Saint Paul reminds us of this in the words of today’s second reading: “. . . for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here” ( 2 Cor . 5, 17). We must therefore give up the old order of the flesh, of sinfulness and living for ourselves. We must live “for him who died and was raised to life” for us ( Ibid . 5, 15).

Every believer is called to discipleship. By steadfastness in prayer by compassion for those in need, by concern for justice in human affairs, Christians exercise the priesthood of the faithful, a living fellowship in Christ offering praise and glory to God our Father.

2. But if we can apply the attributes of this new order of creation to the priesthood of the faithful, how much more compelling is their application to the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood , which is directed towards the sanctification of God’s people.

3. My dear brothers, candidates for the priesthood: for you Christ today renews his prayer to the Father: “Consecrate them in truth, your word is truth” ( Io . 17, 17). This consecration makes you even more a “new creation”. It sets you apart from the world, so that you may be completely dedicated to God.

It gives you the mission to act as Christ’s ambassadors in reconciling the world to God . It was for this purpose that Jesus came from the Father and was born of the Virgin Mary. And it is this same mission which Christ entrusted to his disciples: “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth” ( Ibid . 17, 18).

At this important moment of your lives I say to you young men: Realize how deeply Jesus desires you to be consecrated as he himself is consecrated. Realize how closely the bond of priesthood joins you to Christ. Be worthy of the privilege you are going to receive of bringing God’s gifts of love to his people and offering to God the people’s prayerful response.

4. You must be men of God, his close friends . You must develop daily patterns of prayer, and penance must be a regular part of your life. Prayer and penance will help you to appreciate more deeply that the strength of your ministry is found in the Lord and not in human resources.

England is fortunate to have a distinguished legacy of holy priests . Many of her sons left home and country in penal times to prepare for the priesthood. After ordination, they returned to England to face danger and often death for their faith. Manchester is rightly proud of its great martyr, Saint Ambrose Barlow, the Benedictine. Catholic Lancashire honours its other martyrs: Saint Edmund Arrowsmith and all those saints called “John”: John Almond, John Plessington, John Rigby, John Southworth. But in addition to your martyrs, rejoice in the memory of many holy priests from this region who lived each day the fullness of their vocation. Near here, in Sutton, St Helens, is the tomb of Blessed Dominic Barberi, the Passionist from Italy who received John Henry Newman into the Church. He is but one example of the countless other priests who continue to serve as models of holiness for the clergy of today.

5. You must try to deepen every day your friendship with Christ. You must also learn to share the hopes and the joys, the sorrows and the frustrations of the people entrusted to your care . Bring to them Christ’s saving message of reconciliation. Visit your parishioners in their homes. This has been a strength of the Church in England. It is a pastoral practice that should not be neglected.

And do hot forget all those with special needs, particularly those who are in prison, and their families. In the Gospel, Christ identifies himself with prisoners when He says: “I was in prison and you visited me.” And remember, that He did not specify whether they were innocent or guilty.

Because you represent Christ, no one can be excluded from your pastoral love. I ask you, together with your brother priests, to take my greetings to all the prisons of Britain. Especially to the large one in Manchester. Through you, Jesus Christ wants to offer peace of conscience and the forgiveness of all sins. Through you, Jesus Christ wants to enkindle hope anew in your hearts.

Through you, Jesus Christ wants to love those for whom he died. Teach all your people that you believe in that faithful love by the fidelity with which you live your own life. You must proclaim the Gospel with your life. When you celebrate the sacraments at the decisive moments of their lives, help them to trust in Christ’s promised mercy and compassion. When you offer the redeeming Sacrifice of the Eucharist, help them to understand the need for transforming this great love into works of charity.

6. My brothers, be aware of the effect on others of the witness of lives . Your ordination is a source of consolation for those who have already given many years of priestly service, large numbers of whom are present today. The Lord is grateful for their labour and today he blesses them with the assurance that he will continue to provide for the future of the Church. May all these priests be renewed in the joyful enthusiasm of their early call, and may they continue to give generously of themselves in Christ’s priestly work of reconciling the world to the Father.

I know of the many priests who could not be here because of old age or infirmity. To them also I send the expression of my love in Christ Jesus. Their prayers, their wisdom, their suffering are rich treasures for the Church, from which will come forth abundant blessings.

7. And what of your contemporaries? Undoubtedly your acceptance of Christ’s mission is a clear witness for those who are not yet sure what the Lord wants of them . You show them that being ordained for God’s service is a noble vocation that demands faith, courage and self-sacrifice. I am sure that such qualities are to be found among the young people of Great Britain. To them I say: Be certain that Christ’s call to the priesthood or religious life is addressed to some of you. Be certain that if you listen to his call and follow him in the priesthood or religious life, you will find great joy and happiness. Be generous, take courage and remember his promise: “My yoke is easy and my burden light” ( Matth . 11, 30).

8. Finally, I wish to greet the parents and families of those about to be ordained. I say in the name of the Church, in the company of my fellow-Bishops, thank you for your generosity. It was you who brought these men into the world. It was you who first gave them the faith and the values that have helped to lead them to God’s altar today. The Church, too, must be a family , bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laity, supporting each other and sharing with each other the individual gifts given by God. Every priest relies on the faith and talents of his parish community. If he is wise he will not only know the joy of dispensing God’s grace, but also of receiving it abundantly through his parishioners as well. The partnership between priests and people is built upon prayer, collaboration and mutual respect and love . That has always been the tradition of these islands. May it never be lost.

9. Through this ordination the Lord really and truly continues the work of his “new creation.” And he continues to send forth his message over all the earth and to speak personally to those who will be ordained: “ ‘Go now to those to whom I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you’ - it is the Lord who speaks!” ( Ier . 1, 7-8). Amen.

© Copyright 1982 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Copyright © Dicastero per la Comunicazione - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

1982 visit by Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom

Pope John Paul II arrives in Edinburgh's Princes Street on 31 May 1982. Papal visit to Scotland 1982.JPG

The visit of Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom in 1982 was the first visit there by a reigning Pope . The Pope arrived in the UK on Friday 28 May, and during his time there visited nine cities, delivering 16 major addresses. Among significant events were a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II , the Supreme Governor of the Church of England , a joint service alongside the then- Archbishop of Canterbury , Robert Runcie at Canterbury Cathedral , meeting with and addressing the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at The Mound , and five large open air Masses in London , Coventry , Manchester , Glasgow , and Cardiff . Following his six-day visit which took him to locations in England , Scotland and Wales , he returned to the Vatican on 2 June.

Public opinion

Unlike the 2010 papal visit of his successor, Pope Benedict XVI , John Paul II's was a pastoral rather than a state visit , and was consequently funded by the Catholic Church in the UK rather than the Government. The trip was almost cancelled because Britain was then at war with Argentina , which had invaded the British possession of the Falkland Islands . This visit had to be balanced for fairness with an unscheduled trip to Argentina that June. Over 2 million people attended events hosted by the Pope, with the visit said to be the biggest event for British Catholics since their emancipation.

The visit, the first to the United Kingdom made by a reigning pope, [1] was organised, and largely funded, by the Roman Catholic Church at an estimated cost of around £7   million (the equivalent of about £20M in 2010). In contrast to the 2010 visit by Pope Benedict XVI, it was a pastoral rather than a state visit. The Church offered the public free access to all papal events. [1] There were concerns about the Pope's health following an attempt on his life the previous year, [2] and security was of utmost importance during the visit. [3]

The itinerary for the visit was drafted 42 times before the Vatican finally approved it. [2] However, John Paul's trip was nearly cancelled after Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands , and the subsequent war between Britain and Argentina, just weeks before it was scheduled to take place. [1] The visit only went ahead after intervention from Archbishop of Glasgow, Thomas Winning and Archbishop of Liverpool , Derek Worlock , [4] and an agreement that the pontiff would not meet Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher . [1]

One of the two popemobiles coachbuilt on Leyland Constructor chassis for Pope John Paul II's visit to the United Kingdom in May/June 1982 Leyland Constructor Popemobile 1982.jpg

John Paul II arrived in the United Kingdom on the morning of 28 May 1982, landing at Gatwick Airport . After kissing the runway, he was greeted there by 3,500 singing children, Basil Cardinal Hume , Archbishop of Westminster and Cormac Murphy-O'Connor , Bishop of Arundel and Brighton (the Roman Catholic diocese in which the airport is located). Also present was Anglican Bishop Eric Kemp of Chichester (the Anglican diocese in which the airport is located), already showing the visit's noteworthy reconciliatory character towards the Church of England . [5] The Pope later travelled from Gatwick Airport railway station to London Victoria by special train 975025 Caroline [6] and from there went to Westminster Cathedral, where he celebrated his first Mass of the visit. During his first day in Britain he departed from his prepared text on three occasions, calling for peace in the Falklands and in Northern Ireland . [7] Also on that day he met Queen Elizabeth II , the Supreme Governor of the Church of England . [5]

On 29 May John Paul II visited Canterbury Cathedral , becoming the first pontiff to do so and participating in an historic meeting with the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III ), before attending a ceremony with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie. During the service, the two church leaders renewed their baptismal vows together, knelt in silent prayer at the spot where Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170, and issued a common declaration, thanking God for "the progress that has been made in the work of reconciliation" between the Catholic Church and the Church of England. Later that day, he went through Wembley by means of a procession, then celebrated Mass at Wembley Stadium in the presence of 80,000 people. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, and sang " He's Got the Whole World in His Hands ". [2]

On 30 May, after a meeting with over 20,000 of his fellow Polish countrymen at the Crystal Palace stadium in London, the Pope travelled by helicopter to Coventry , where he celebrated Mass at the city's Baginton Airport in the presence of some 300,000 people. In his address, he described Coventry as a "city devastated by war but rebuilt in hope". [8] Afterwards, he travelled to Liverpool , where over a million spectators lined the route of his journey from the airport in Speke to the city. He attended services at the city's Metropolitan Cathedral and the Anglican Cathedral. Two thousand people attended his Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral. [4] After Mass, the Pope greeted young people gathered outside the cathedral.

On 31 May, the Pope visited Manchester , where he met the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Sir Immanuel Jakobovits at the Convent of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth . At Heaton Park he celebrated Mass in front of a crowd of more than 200,000 people, during which he ordained twelve men to the priesthood, telling them; "You must be men of God, his close friends. You must develop daily patterns of prayer, and penance must be a regular part of your life." [9] The Pope then travelled by helicopter to Knavesmire Racecourse in York where some 200,000 people gathered for a Liturgy of the Word .

After the York ceremony, the Pope was taken to RAF Leeming from where he flew by jet to Edinburgh in Scotland, landing at RAF Turnhouse , Edinburgh. At Murrayfield Stadium , he met with 45,000 young people and leaders of Protestant churches, before finishing the day with a visit to the city's Catholic cathedral.

On 1 June, John Paul II firstly visited patients at St Joseph's Hospital in Rosewell and addressed educators at St Andrew's College , before celebrating Mass at Bellahouston Park for 300,000 people. The Pope was presented with several symbolic gifts during the service, including a pipe banner with the Pope's coat of arms, a piece of Caithness glass, a firkin of whisky and a Scotland football shirt. He told worshippers "as believers, we are constantly exposed to pressures by modern society which would compel us to conform to the standards of this secular age, substitute new proprieties, restrict our aspirations at risk of compromising our Christian conscience." [7]

The Welsh leg of the trip took place on 2 June with the Pope's arrival in Cardiff . After he was awarded the Freedom of Cardiff , a city which received its royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1581, several years after she had been declared deposed by Pope Pius V in his bull Regnans in Excelsis (departing from his decision to avoid political meetings during his visit), John Paul II travelled to Pontcana Fields where he celebrated Mass for over 100,000 people, speaking briefly in Welsh to declare "Bendith Duw arnoch" – "the blessing of God be on you" – which was received with enthusiastic applause. [10] Afterwards, he went on to Ninian Park , home of Cardiff City F.C. , where he met with approximately 33,000 young people, again calling for peace in the South Atlantic and then calling on the young people of Britain to launch a crusade of prayer. In a direct reference to King Henry VIII 's book Defence of the Seven Sacraments for which he received the title Fidei defensor (Defender of the Faith) from Pope Leo X , one of the Sacraments was highlighted at each papal venue.

The speeches for John Paul's visit were written following consultation with British clerics, including the current archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols . These were largely well received by the public, with some two million people attending venues to see the Pope and hear him speak. According to the BBC's Michael Hirst, John Paul II's visit to the United Kingdom was the biggest event for British Catholics since their emancipation during the 19th century. [1] In contrast to the generally positive reaction, there were a small number of demonstrations, mostly by supporters of the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party leader, the Rev. Ian Paisley , and other small groups. [5]

046CupolaSPietro.jpg

  • Pastoral trips of Pope John Paul II
  • Roman Catholicism in the United Kingdom
  • Anglican Schism

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  • 1 2 3 "1982: Pope makes historic visit to Canterbury" . BBC On This Day . BBC. 29 May 1982 . Retrieved 18 September 2010 .
  • ↑ "Pope John Paul II visit recalled by security chief" . BBC News . BBC. 14 September 2010 . Retrieved 18 September 2010 .
  • 1 2 "Liverpool remembers Pope John Paul II" . BBC Radio Merseyside . BBC. 2 April 2005 . Retrieved 18 September 2010 .
  • 1 2 3 "Different pope, different times for British trip" . The Himalayan Times . 12 September 2010. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010 . Retrieved 19 September 2010 .
  • ↑ "The history of our "Hastings" DEMUs" . Hastings Diesels Limited. 12 December 2011 . Retrieved 21 June 2012 .
  • 1 2 "The first visit: Looking back at Pope John Paul II's mass at Bellahouston Park" . Daily Record . 14 September 2010 . Retrieved 18 September 2010 .
  • ↑ Dimmer, Sam (17 May 2010). "Coventry Catholic church leaders delighted at Pope visit to Coventry" . Coventry Telegraph . Retrieved 19 September 2010 .
  • ↑ "John Paul II at Heaton Park" . Pope Benedict XVI visit to the United Kingdom . Catholic Communications Network . Retrieved 19 September 2010 .
  • ↑ "Pope John Paul II's visit to Wales in 1982" . BBC Wales History . BBC. 15 September 2010 . Retrieved 19 September 2010 .
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IMAGES

  1. The Pope's visit to Manchester in 1982

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  2. The Pope's visit to Manchester in 1982

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  3. The Pope's visit to Manchester in 1982

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  4. The Pope's visit to Manchester in 1982

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  5. The Pope's visit to Manchester in 1982

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  6. The Pope's visit to Manchester in 1982

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COMMENTS

  1. 1982 visit by Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom

    The visit of Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom in 1982 was the first visit there by a reigning Pope. The Pope arrived in the UK on Friday 28 May, and during his time there visited nine cities, delivering 16 major addresses. Among significant events were a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a ...

  2. The Pope's visit to Manchester in 1982

    A Mancunian welcome for Pope John Paul9 of 19. Pope John Paul II at Chaplain to Nazareth House ahead of Mass at Heaton Park, Manchester, Monday 31st May 1982. Residents and Staff listen as the ...

  3. The day the Pope came to Manchester

    The Pope's visit to Manchester in 1982. View gallery. Pupils at Chorlton Convent School made their own Papal banner measuring 30ft by 10ft. ... Cardiff was the last stop on the Pope's visit.

  4. An open-air mass at Heaton Park and the Popemobile in 1982 photos

    It's almost 40 years since John Paul II became the first Pope to visit Britain. In May 1982, more than 250,000 people packed into Heaton Park to hear the Pontiff celebrate mass from a specially ...

  5. Pope Benedict XVI in the UK

    Manchester. Three quarters of an hour before Mass at Manchester's Heaton Park on Monday morning, Pope John Paul II met the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Sir Immanuel Jakobovits at the Convent of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth in Manchester. He then travelled to Heaton Park where he ordained twelve men to the priesthood in front of a crowd of ...

  6. Papal Visit

    Pope John Paul II Visits Manchester's Heaton Park To Celebrate Open Air Mass In Front Of 250,000 People.

  7. BBC

    Memories of Heaton Park. The Pope's one and only visit to Britain took place in 1982, part of which was a huge open-air mass in Heaton Park on May 31st. Hundreds of thousands of people were there ...

  8. The Enduring Legacy of John Paul II's 1982 Visit to Britain

    The Enduring Legacy of John Paul II's 1982 Visit to Britain Pope John Paul II shakes hands with Queen Elizabeth II as he leaves Buckingham Palace after their historic May 28, 1982, meeting in London. ... The papal visit became a true opportunity for a message of peace and goodwill, with anti-Catholicism of the old sort somehow at variance ...

  9. BBC NEWS

    Pope John Paul II's visit to the North West in 1982 was widely regarded as a double salute to the region's Roman Catholic community. Catholics have emotional memories of his visits to Liverpool - once a city rife with sectarian hatred - and Manchester.

  10. Diocese marks 40 years since Pope John Paul II's visit to Manchester

    On 31 st May 1982, around a quarter of a million people flocked into Manchester's Heaton Park to catch a glimpse of Pope John Paul II. The pope - who was later canonised as Saint John Paul II in 2014 - visited the park as part of the first ever papal visit to the UK.

  11. Pope Benedict XVI in the UK

    Pope Saint John Paul II celebrates Mass with priestly ordinations in Heaton Park, Manchester in 1982. ... Archbishop of Birmingham says the Papal Visit has given Catholics "fresh courage" Papal Visit: Collection in parishes. A special collection in all parishes in Scotland, England and Wales will be held on 23 May 2010. ...

  12. 40th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II's Visit to Manchester

    On the 31 May 1982, St John Paul II, Pope from 1978-2005, visited Manchester. Today marks the 40th Anniversary of this very special day. One year to the day since the failed assassination attempt took place against him, the enduringly popular pontiff celebrated Mass in Heaton Park on a monumental outdoor altar constructed for the occasion.

  13. The day the Pope came to town

    POPE John Paul II waves to the crowds during his visit to Heaton Park. POPE John Paul II made history the day he came to Heaton Park 23 years ago, on 31 May 1982. He flew in exactly a year after ...

  14. 1982 visit by Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom

    The visit of Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom in 1982 was the first visit there by a reigning Pope. The Pope arrived in the UK on Friday 28 May, and during his time there visited nine cities, delivering 16 major addresses. Among significant events were a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a joint service alongside the then-Archbishop of ...

  15. A very different papal visit from that of John Paul II in 1982

    Much has changed since Pope John Paul II came to the UK on a pastoral visit in 1982 during the Falklands War. He spent six days being greeted like a rock-star as he travelled throughout Britain.

  16. Manchester Plans For A Million Crowd

    Page 3 from 26th March 1982 Music For Pope's Masses Will Be By English Composers. Page 3 from 16th April 1982 Pope To Ordain Deaf Deacon In Manchester. ... HEATON PARK, the venue for the Pope's visit to Manchester on May 31, is reputed to be the largest park in Europe.

  17. The Visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to England & Wales 1982

    Items may also use language taken from historical documents which is now outdated and derogatory. We welcome your help in identifying items that cause offence or harm. Please contact us at [email protected]. The Visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to England & Wales 1982 Heaton Park, Manchester, Monday 31st May 1982 Official ...

  18. The Enduring Legacy of John Paul II's 1982 Visit to Britain

    Pope John Paul II shakes hands with Queen Elizabeth II as he leaves Buckingham Palace after their historic May 28, 1982, meeting in London. (photo: Ron Bell / AFP via Getty Images) In 2022, the ...

  19. POPE BEGINS VISIT TO BRITAIN TODAY

    In 597 Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine of Canterbury to England as a missionary and he established himself as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. By 1500 nearly everyone in Britain was a Catholic.

  20. 31 May 1982, Priestly ordinations, Manchester

    HOLY MASS WITH PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS. HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II. Manchester. Monday, 31 May 1982. My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, 1. I greet you in the joy of the Holy Spirit! The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church is for every Christian a time of celebration and an opportunity for spiritual renewal.

  21. Remembering the Pope's £1m visit to York in 1982

    YORK had never seen anything like it. Some 210,000 people gathered at York's Knavesmire to greet John Paul II on his papal visit to Britain 40 years ago this month. They were standing in 1,000 ...

  22. 1982 visit by Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom

    The visit of Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom in 1982 was the first visit there by a reigning Pope. The Pope arrived in the UK on Friday 28 May, and during his time there visited nine cities, delivering 16 major addresses. Among significant events were a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a ...

  23. PDF BBC ON THIS DAY

    The Pope's visit to Canterbury Cathedral was part of a hectic six-day trip to Britain - the first ever made by a pontiff. John Paul's itinerary was drafted 42 times before the Vatican finally approved it. It took the pontiff to London, Canterbury, Coventry, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow Stories From 29 May 1968: Manchester Utd win ...