Salmond’s welcome for papal visit
FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has backed moves for the Pope to address the Scottish Parliament during a planned visit next autumn.
He said: “I warmly welcome the prospect of Pope Benedict XVI visiting Scotland next year. The papal events in 1982 were an enormous success. A state visit would be a wonderful occasion for Scotland.
“Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s suggestion of an address to the Scottish Parliament is an excellent idea.”
Cardinal O’Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: “I am delighted at the prospect of a visit to Scotland by Pope Benedict XVI next year and wish to express the happiness of our Catholic community at the news.”
However a spokesman for the National Secular Society said it would organise “a coalition of groups to make clear to the Pope that he is not welcomed here by everyone.”