Pope to go to Birmingham Oratory

Pope Benedict XVI will visit the Birmingham Oratory during his trip to Britain, it emerged today.  While he is there he will visit Cardinal John Henry Newman’s rooms.

There had been some doubt about whether the Pope would visit the Oratory because of controversies within the Birmingham Oratory community, but it is an obvious stop for the Pontiff because Newman lived there in his final years. It holds his library as well as the relics that were found when grave was opened in 2008.

A spokesman for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said that the visit’s organisers had asked Birmingham City Council for the use of Cofton Park for Newman’s beatification on September 19. He said that, while the details still had to be worked out with the City of Birmingham, they hoped that at least 80,000 people would be able to attend.  The site is near Rednal, where Newman’s Oratorians had a house and where the Fathers of the Oratory were later buried. Cardinal Newman’s grave is there.

The spokesman said: “Cofton Park will have more historical resonance, because it is next to Rednal. The Oratorians used to take their recreation in Cofton Park.  What is important is that it enables a visit to the Birmingham Oratory. If it all works out, the Pope will make a private visit to Newman’s rooms.

Nota Bene: Catholic Voices and the Tony Blair Faith Foundation

A spokesman for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation has quashed rumours that the organisation had a hand in funding the Catholic Voicesproject . He said that the foundation has not donated money to the project. (To see the TBFF’s donations, click here). The rumour surfaced amidst speculations about the identity of a major donor to the project dedicated to training up lay Catholics to be media-savvy ahead of the Pope’s visit to Britain in September. Catholic Voices is under the auspices of the Catholic Union.

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Archbishop Vincent Nichols talks about the Papal visit

We interviewed Archbishop Vincent Nichols about the Papal visit in September after he presented the new booklet promoting the visit. During the interview he explains why he is pleased it is a state visit, what is exciting about it and why he is emphasising Cardinal John Henry Newman’s role as a parish priest. He also invites Catholics in England and Wales to put their support behind the Pope during the visit by praying, coming out to the events and giving financial and spiritual support.

Here is the exclusive interview:

Papal visit details announced today

Here is the full joint statement of the bishops of England and Wales and HMs Government about the Papal visit in September. And here is the new website where most of the announcements regarding the Papal visit will be made.

The UK Government and the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Scotland, England and Wales today welcomed the forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. At a joint press conference, they said that the Papal Visit represents an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen ties between the UK and the Holy See on global initiatives, as well as the important role of faith in creating strong communities.