The full itinerary for the Pope’s visit to the UK has just been released, and besides the expected formal meetings, there are a couple of more intriguing encounters timetabled.
As expected, he will be greeted by the Queen at Holyrood House, and then meeting the Archbishop of Canterbury and conducting Mass in various locations. But David Cameron and Nick Clegg will both have the opportunity to make a “courtesy call” on the Holy Father at Archbishop’s House in Westminster, though the meeting with Cameron is scheduled to last twice as long as the one with Clegg.
Harriet Harman, as acting leader of the opposition, will follow Clegg in making her courtesy call on the Saturday morning of the visit. Given her previous clash with the Pope over his exhortation to bishops to fight her equalities legislation with “missionary zeal”, the meeting could be an interesting one to observe.
On the Saturday afternoon, the Pope will visit St Peter’s Residence for Older People in Vauxhall, south London, a care home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Mgr Andrew Summersgill, co-ordinator for the visit, has said that the reason for this low-key event amid all the formal meetings is to provide “a real opportunity for the Holy Father to go as a pastor to those who cannot go to him”, as well as giving him a chance “to celebrate the pastoral care that is given, day in day out, by so many people in the Church”.
And of course it doesn’t hurt that John Paul II made a similar visit to a care home in Edinburgh during his visit in 1982. As I have pointed out, the Vatican is clearly conscious that comparisons will be made between the two tours, and is taking no chances that, while in the UK, Pope Benedict should seem any less popular or “in touch” with British Catholics than his predecessor.
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