POPE Benedict's state visit to England and Scotland, magnificently staged and deeply emotional, celebrated the life and work of the great thinker Cardinal John Henry Newman.It also celebrated an understated fact, the huge rise in the status and influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Britain.
In every corner of the establishment, Catholics are present, often close to the top. Catholic education flourishes. Old prejudices have dwindled to an insignificant level. All this benefits the entire society.
But relations between the Roman and Anglican churches, though apparently warm, are not easy.
The issues of priestly celibacy and ordination of women provoke Anglican resentment.
And one question on which the two churches appear united is, frankly, puzzling.
Both oppose "aggressive secularism", but put forward no evidence of its existence. Nobody disputes that Britain is essentially a secular society.
But Christians are not persecuted, or discriminated against in any way, in Britain, or Ireland, or anywhere else in Western Europe.
And the issue that clouded, but did not spoil, the splendour of the visit is one of equal concern to secularists and members of all denominations -- and Benedict XVI himself.
He met victims of clerical child sex abuse. He expressed his "sorrow and shame" at the "unspeakable crimes" committed by clergy. His sincerity was beyond doubt.
But he has not yet brought himself to acknowledge, and apologise for, the dreadful mishandling of the scandals by the Catholic church.
We must wait in hope.
SIC: II/IE