Pope's visit is for everyone, says Poole councillor (From Bournemouth Echo)

Pope's visit is for everyone, says Poole councillor

9:00am Saturday 28th August 2010 in

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THE forthcoming Papal visit will have a unifying and inspirational influence, say local Catholics.

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Heathrow on September 16 for a four-day visit, with large gatherings in London, Birmingham and Glasgow.

At the Sacred Heart Church in Bournemouth, Deacon Roger Carr-Jones told me that the pastoral area had been allocated 100 tickets to the London gathering and 70 to Birmingham.

“We are heavily over-subscribed,” said Roger, who will be a “pilgrim leader” on September 18, when 80,000 people are expected to attend the evening vigil in Hyde Park.

“It will be very special to travel and come together with so many other Catholics,” he told me.

“The Pope is the visual image of the unity within the Church so it will be a very special moment.”

Sue Woodward, also from Sacred Heart, will make the trip to London. She said: “The unity of loads of people coming together is powerful. “Even when I come out of church, I feel on Cloud Nine after meeting with others, so gathering with thousands of other pilgrims that hold the same faith will encourage my own. “The Pope is the leader of our Church and to see him will be such an inspiring thing.”

The Catholic Church of England and Wales has published a guide for those attending, advising pilgrims to take sunscreen, torches and cushions!

Bronnie Pemberton at Corpus Christie Church, Boscombe, who saw Pope John Paul II in Croatia, has decided not to join pilgrims this time.

“I’m very excited though,” she said. “After all, it’s like Royalty coming to our doorstep! “I think there will be a huge outpouring of forgiveness and unity after all that has gone on recently. “This Pope is very humble and I think it is wonderful that he has been able to apologise [to victims of child abuse by priests].

“We need to respond to that – also be humble and welcome him.”

Cllr Judy Butt, former Mayor of Poole and Eucharist minister at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in the town, said she would “love” to be at the gathering and will have friends in the crowd. “The Pope’s visit is for everyone,” she said.

“He will lighten the mood of everyone and say the right things to brighten people’s spirits in this very difficult current climate.”

l For more information about the Pope’s visit to Britain, see the website thepapalvisit.org.uk.