Rome, Italy, Sep 22, 2010 / 03:17 am
The Holy Father used positive language to describe the outcomes of his Apostolic Visit to the U.K. during the general audience. Speaking of the joy and satisfaction he felt during the trip, he noted also that the "Christian heritage is still strong and ever active at every level of social life" in the U.K.
The Pope spent Sept. 16-19 in the U.K. where he stopped in four cities: Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland on the first day, London for the next two and Birmingham on the final day for the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
The visit, he said, ushered in "a new and important phase in the long-standing relations between the Holy See and Great Britain."
Pope Benedict said he was able to affirm "how the Christian heritage is still strong and ever active at every level of social life. The hearts of the British and their existence are open to the reality of God and there are numerous expressions of religiosity that my visit has put even more in evidence."