THE leader of the catholic church in Scotland was sent a live bullet in the post.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien received the package at his Edinburgh home.
The senders claimed to be the Protestant Action Group - an old cover name for the Ulster Volunteer Force.
Under the words "No Surrender", the letter warned the churchman: "If you bring your Pope here ... this is what he will get."
Police, including the Met's anti-terror squad, carried out an investigation but the culprits were not traced.
At the time, the Church decided not to publicise the affair, fearing it would detract from the visit.
But last night Cardinal O'Brien, prompted by the bombs campaign, decided to lift the lid on the incident.
He said: "This was a horrific incitement to violence and deeply regrettable. But, in the end, it did not detract from the welcome the Pope received
from the vast majority of Scots of all and no religious affiliations."
A Church source said last night they were deeply concerned by the bombs campaign.
A source close to the hierarchy said: "This is a very worrying time.
These problems have been with us for a long time and we seem to be no
closer to solving the problem. Everything seems to be heaped at the door of the Old Firm clubs. But they are not the authors of the wider problems we have in Scottish society."