Vatican City, Sep 10, 2010 / 10:57 am
Looking forward to the Pope's visit to Great Britain next week, the Vatican's spokesman said on Friday that there is "much serenity" as the date of departure nears. He also highlighted the true and original focus of the trip, Cardinal John Henry Newman's beatification.
The much-awaited papal visit to Scotland and England was presented by the Vatican spokesman at a Friday morning press conference at the Holy See's Press Office. Fr. Lombardi waded through the event-filled four-day schedule item by item, repeating the already public schedule but also offering new pieces of information to the public, including the possibility of a meeting with sexual abuse victims.
It is the 17th trip of this papacy, said Fr. Lombardi, noting that despite what some have said, it is not the "most difficult" trip the Pope has ever made. While there has been a lot of talk leading up to the trip, he added, "there are no particular concerns either on the Pope's part or that of the organizers."
Possible demonstrations against the Holy Father's presence in the country have been publicized through the media, but apparently they have not changed any elements of the trip.