Today's itinerary and some links
As the Holy Father's aeroplane will be entering British airspace in a few minutes, here is the itinerary for today with some pertinent links:
08:10 Departure from Ciampino Airport, RomeThe Vatican website's
10:30 Arrival at Edinburgh International Airport
11:00 State Welcome and Audience with HM Queen Elizabeth II, Palace of Holyrood House
11:40State Reception in the grounds of the Palace of Holyrood House
Address: HM The Queen
Address: The Holy Father
13:00 Private Lunch with the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Archbishop's House
17:15 Pope Benedict XVI presides at the celebration of Mass, Bellahouston Park
Homily: The Holy Father
20:00 Departure from Glasgow Airport for London Heathrow
21:25 Arrival at London Heathrow Airport
The Catholic Herald has a Live Blog for the Papal Visit
The Guardian also has a live blog. "live coverage of every turn of the popemobile plus all the pomp and protests" gives you an idea. The BBC has something broadly similar. There is a more balanced live blog at the Telegraph
James MacMillan, composer of music for the Papal Masses, says that Pope Benedict XVI is the worst enemy of Britain's vicious secular elites
The Pope’s address in Westminster Hall is one of his most important ever according to Edward Pentin, Rome correspondent of the Catholic Herald. I think he is right: this is the one to watch, though I think that his remarks on education at Strawberry Hill will also be most important.
It came as a surprise to me to discover that the Universe was one of the sponsors of the celibacy debate the other day. Catholic Voices rightly raises questions about this.
Fr John Boyle has cancelled his subscription to L'Ossequioso Romano after they gave Tony Blair a large chunk of space on the front page.
Catholic Voices is continuing the story of Geoffrey Robinson running away from interviews when he learns that Austen Ivereigh will be against him
And finally, Catholic MP Mark Pritchard accuses BBC of ‘institutional Christianaphobia’ in its coverage of Papal visit