Sunday, October 18, 2009

York council officials ordered to pull out all the stops and line up Papal visit

YORK is to pull out all the stops to try to persuade the Pope to come to the city next year.

Civic officials have been told to do everything they can to get Pope Benedict XVI to the city, if next year’s planned Papal visit to Britain becomes a reality.

Andrew Waller, leader of City of York Council, said: “I have asked officers to investigate how we can get the Pope.

“The previous Pope was here in 1982 and I think after hosting Royal Ascot (in 2005), we have demonstrated that we can cope with large influxes of people.

“This is a transport hub and the traditional capital of the north of England.”

Coun Waller, a practising Christian, said York Minster’s recent hosting of the remains of St Therese of Lisieux had reinforced the importance of York. He said: “I think we need to do such things every so often.”

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough, which covers York, said he was still awaiting confirmation on whether and when the Pope might visit Britain.

But he said: “If he visits, it will be a huge thing for us.

“Wherever he has gone he has been received in a very powerful way and we know that the recent relics of St Therese of Lisieux at York Minster got a great turnout, and also at Middlesbrough Cathedral.

“We know he would be well-received.”

When the previous Pope, John Paul II, visited Britain in 1982, some 250,000 people gathered on York’s Knavesmire to hear him speak.

James Brennan, York Racecourse’s marketing manager, has already said course officials would be delighted to host a similar visit from Pope Benedict XVI next year.

He told The Press recently: “It’s an exciting prospect for the whole city. It was a great occasion in 1982 and we like to be part of these occasions.”
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SIC: TYP