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Us Catholics get a fair bit of kicking these days, across all the media, we are almost used to it. But some of it with regard to the Pope's visit has been a bit of a shock. Clearly the horrific paedophile situation has inflicted cataclysmic harm to the church and massive PR rebuilding across all nations is needed. Hence the idea of this Papal visit.
I think its probably normal isnt it, to pick up the tab when a head of state or a head of church visits, because they will have been invited in the first place. You dont invite someone to dinner and then charge them for it...so personally am not too worried about the cost but am worried about the furore, because if the furore continues the goodwill idea of the visit will be lost.
Yes indeed the criticism has been fierce so it makes one wonder if the timing of this visit is good. Even Prime Minister Cameron, mindful of the high level of criticism which will have reached the very steps of the Vatican, issued a statement yesterday saying the Pope was "very welcome". Clearly trying to calm the situation.
When the last Pope came ( in 1982 I think it was), it was hugely successful. He pottered around in his PopeMobile and was mobbed everywhere. He was of course a very popular Pope, charismatic and likeable, and it was prior to the paedophile scandals being known.
This current Pope is not quite the same, however perhaps he never had a chance as this horrific scandal of paedophilia exploded all over his papalcy.
I myself am not a practising Catholic these days but its in the roots, and once in there its never out. So I am hoping that this visit will in the end be a success and spread some goodwill and peace.