Scottish Catholic Observer

Cardinal Keith O’Brien has told the Catholic community in Scotland that ‘we are better for the Papal visit’ a year to the day from Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the country.

The cardinal highlighted that, on the first anniversary of the visit, ‘it is important for us all to remember the joy of that wonderful celebration,’ while Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow paid tribute to the ‘immense significance’ of the Holy Father beginning his four-day state visit to the UK in Scotland, on St Ninian’s Day.

Pope Benedict arrived in Scotland on September 16 last year, where he received an official welcome from the Queen at Holyroodhouse Palace, in Edinburgh, before being greeted in the streets of the capital city by thousands of Scottish Catholics at the St Ninian’s Day Parade along Princes Street. He then travelled to Glasgow, celebrating Mass for more than 70,000 pilgrims at the city’s Bellahouston Park.

Lasting legacy

Cardinal O’Brien spoke about the lasting legacy of Pope Benedict’s visit and how we, as Catholics in Scotland, must continue to build on its undoubted success.

“I would say unhesitatingly we are better for the Papal visit,” Cardinal O’Brien said. “We can think back with pride to the place which our religion has in Scotland at this present time and that we are capable as a Catholic Christian community to host an event such as we did with the full cooperation from our state authorities.

“But we must remember also that lasting effect left by Pope Benedict and his visit. He showed us something of the human face not only of himself as Pope but of our whole Church itself. Aware of difficulties with regard to the numbers of practising Catholics at this present time, the shortage of vocations, and worries with regard to child protection issues—nevertheless we did indeed show a very positive face of Catholicism in Scotland.”

The cardinal continued by stressing that Catholic Faithful in Scotland must continue to ‘be the better of that visit’ through the study of the Pope’s teachings.

“Many clarion calls went out from our Holy Father but none I think more strongly issued nor more warmly received than that call to ‘be a saint,’ which the Pope addressed to the young people of our country,” the cardinal said.

Archbishop Conti expressed similar gratitude for the Pope’s visit and, in particular, the celebration of Mass at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park.

“Of course the significance of the visit itself was immense, not only for the Catholic community and the many of other faiths and none who joined us—whether at Bellahouston Park or, more likely, through their engagement in events via media reports,” the archbishop said. “May all who recall the visit of the Pope to Scotland at the time of this anniversary revive happy memories and ensure that they be recalled in the days to come.”

Pope’s memories

The visit was recalled by the Pope, himself, last Friday, at a meeting with Nigel Baker, the new British ambassador to the Vatican, at the Papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.

The Pope reiterated his gratitude ‘to the British people for the warm welcome which I received during my stay.’

“Her Majesty and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh received me most graciously and I was pleased to meet the leaders of the three main political parties and to discuss with them matters of common concern,” the Holy Father said of his state visit to the UK last year. “As you know, a particular motive for my visit was the Beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman, a great Englishman whom I have admired for many years and whose raising to the altars was a personal wish fulfilled.  I remain convinced of the relevance of Newman’s insights regarding society, as the United Kingdom, Europe and the West in general today face challenges that he identified with remarkable prophetic clarity.  It is my hope that a fresh awareness of his writings will bear new fruit among those searching for solutions to the political, economic and social questions of our age.”

Events

The anniversary of the Papal visit will be remembered across Scotland in a number of ways today. More than 3000 children from Catholic schools in Motherwell Diocese will gather at Carfin Grotto, Scotland’s national shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes, for an anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell this morning, while, this afternoon, pupils from all Catholic secondary schools in Glasgow Archdiocese will gather for Mass at the city’s St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral.