Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Scotish Catholics Stump Up For Papal Visit

SCOTLAND'S Catholics have paid £1.8million towards the cost of the Pope's visit, it was revealed last night. 

Generous parishioners have stumped up 90 per cent of the £2million bill for staging last September's event through special collections in chapels.

The country's 185,000 Catholics dug deep to give £20 each towards the total.

Last night church spokesman Peter Kearney said: "We are well on the way to covering all the costs, which were kept to a minimum through prudent budgeting and from generosity of the people.

"The fundraising has passed the 90 per cent mark and is expected to be completed soon."

The remaining £200,000 for the historic visit of Pope Benedict XVI - who celebrated Mass in Glasgow - is expected to be paid off by the end of the financial year.

It's in contrast to Pope John Paul II's trip in 1982, which took "years" to cover.

Mr Kearney added: "We don't expect we will be paying off the cost for years to come."

SIC: TSS/UK