Thaindian News

By Madhuri Dey
Sep 15, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Although the Lancashire Catholics maintained in front of the media sources that the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to United Kingdom is going to be a major event, with thousands of pilgrims expected to pour in the city to witness the first papal visit to Britain, the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales on Tuesday held that smaller crowd will be attending the event from what was expected earlier. Media sources report that the organizers of the event now expect a footfall of around 55,000 worshipers at the beatification of Cardinal Newman on Sunday in Birmingham. Earlier the organizers estimated a footfall over 80,000 at the scheduled event.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales also maintained that fewer people will be attending the open-air mass scheduled to be held at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park, compared to the number that turned up at the same venue back in 1982 to attend the mass of Pope John Paul II. However, the organizers hold that this is not because of any lack of interest among people or worshipers but because of the lack of space and sight lines. Lord Chris Patten, who is supervising the Government’s part of the visit said to that many trees have grown since 1982 and have altered many sight lines and it is not advisable to cut down trees for the Pope’s visit to Glasgow.

However, a reputed media source came up with reports earlier this week that a poll has found that only 14 percent people support the Pope’s visit to Britain and was looking forward to it. While the majority of the people surveyed held that they are not interested in the visit, many others voiced their discontent over the Pope’s objection to abortion and contraception.