What does the Papal visit mean to you?
| 10:31 UK time, Friday, 17 September 2010
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Papal vists are the says this blogger.Ìý With 2012 around the corner, maybe that's why the Pope chosen for his latest trip.
ButÌý whilst the glitz of the Olympics is present, the solidarity isn't. Many of you have mixed feelings aboutÌýhis trip. Controversial statements by Vatican staff about Britain being a , comments by the Pope about the dangers of Britain becoming a modern culture and the ongoing have done little to help the mood.
Despite the above, Madeleine Teahan asks Britain to .
The tired retort - "you should not have to tolerate intolerant views and the Pope is a homophobe and a misogynist!" -is often hurled back at those who advocate the Pope having a state provided platform.
If you prescribe to the latter view of the Pope I can only ask - as a young woman who detests homophobia, is appalled by misogyny and greatly admires the Pope - that you listen to what the he has to say. If you still draw the same conclusions, then I and many other Catholics will champion your right to respectfully express it, but the Pope has a right to at least be heard. To deny him this is just not British
Some of you share Madeleine's concerns,
'I think the Pope shows great courage and conviction coming to such a lion's den as Britain is for him at this time. I fear things will not go well for him, with many in the media and the public baying for his blood. I only ask for tolerance. Around 10% of the people of Britain are Catholic. In the same way that is surely wrong to burn or despoil the holy objects of Islam, in America, it must be wrong to mock or despoil the holy things of Catholicism in the UK. Peaceful protest and letters to papers are one thing, but let us hope the outrage fails to become nasty or brutish. We don't want people getting medieval,' says .
But on the Irish Times understands the outrage,
"I certainly don't want people burning effigies; that stoops to the Terry Jones level of objection, but I'm not surprised by the general ambivalence towards the visit. I would love to be in a world where the pope would be welcomed with open eyes, but that's impossible given his response to British liberalism. My husband will be going to the ecumenical prayer service in Westminster Abbey, but I've declined the opportunity to go."
And this blogger just wants the Pope to . He's believes the money could be better spent elsewhere.
The Pope's also trending on Twitter.
Some of you are excited
wiwibloggs: the pope walking next to queen elizabeth on bbc news. love when symbols of aging and irrelevant institutions stand side-by-side!
Others insulted,
JAMEZbadwolf: Apparently according to the Pope I'm the scourge of the world because I don't believe in an invisible man living in the clouds.
Is the Pope's visit bad timing? Have the controversies been forgotten amidst the excitement? And what do you make about the Pope's comments on the dangers of secularism?
