Pope Benedict XVI in the UK

From September 16 to 20, the pope made a landmark visit to the United Kingdom, to a mixed reception. The 83-year-old pontiff’s four-day visit featured a series of top-level meetings and visits with representatives of the country’s six million Catholics. The trip, however, was also marked by public displays of opposition, mostly demonstrations and protests. Pope Benedict XVI was greeted by Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, upon his arrival at the Edinburgh airport. In London, he met with the leaders of all three main UK parties as well as Anglican leaders. A central aim of his trip was strengthening inter-Church and inter-religious relations with the Anglican Church.