Pope Benedict XVI in Scotland – an historic day
Written by author on September 16, 2010
Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond tonight hailed the visit of Pope Benedict’s XVI to Scotland as a special and historic day, after His Holiness led Mass at Bellahouston, Glasgow, in front of tens of thousands of pilgrims.
Earlier Pope Benedict flew into Edinburgh where, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse he and Her Majesty the Queen addressed a State Reception. His Holiness then travelled through Edinburgh, watched by an estimated 125,000 onlookers and preceded on Princes Street by hundreds of schoolchildren, pipers and historical characters charting Scotland’s journey of faith since St Ninian first brought the Gospel from Rome some 1,600 years ago.
Tonight the First Minister said: “The pre-visit negativity in some sections of the media has been swept away by a popular tide of enthusiasm, as Scotland opened its heart to the Holy Father. It was a wonderful day not only for the Catholic community but for the whole nation, which made it a special and historic day for Scotland.
“The characters represented in the St Ninian’s Day Parade underlined the inclusive nature of modern Scottish society, where people of different faiths can come together, respecting each others badges of identity, in order to work towards a better society for all. That can be a lasting legacy of Pope Benedict’s visit to Scotland.
“I, together with Scots across the country, am deeply grateful to His Holiness for this visit, and he leaves us with the very best wishes of the people of Scotland.”
Rounding off the Holy Father’s visit to Scotland, Minister for Culture & External Affairs Fiona Hyslop bade farewell to Pope Benedict at Glasgow Airport, as he departed for the next stage of his tour in London.
The Minister was accompanied at the airport by Renfrewshire Provost Celia Lawson.
Speaking after the Pope’s departure, Ms Hyslop said: “This has been a fantastic day for all of Scotland. The people of Scotland can be justifiably proud of the warm welcome they have extended to the Holy Father and the image they have projected of Scotland to the world. The Scottish Government thanks the great many people involved in organising this historic visit and for making it such a success.”
