Day Two

Pope Benedict XVI flew to London from Scotland to start his visit to England.

Friday, 17 September 2010

Benedict XVI flew to London and took up temporary residence at the Apostolic Nunciature in Wimbledon. The first public engagement on Friday morning was a celebration of Catholic Education at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham. Next came a meeting with representatives of other religions and people of faith in the University’s Waldegrave Drawing Room. Pope Benedict then traveled to central London to spend time with the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace before visiting parliament to give an address to civil society in Westminster Hall. The day concluded with a celebration of Evening Prayer at Westminster Abbey.

Bishop McMahon welcomes the Pope to the Big Assembly

"By educating children and expanding each one's capacity for love, we develop the whole person, nurturing body, spirit and mind alike."

Pope Benedict addresses Teachers and Religious

"I myself as a young boy was taught by the “English Ladies” and I owe them a deep debt of gratitude. Many of you belong to teaching orders that have carried the light of the Gospel to far-off lands as part of the Church’s great missionary work, and for this too I give thanks and praise to God."

Pope Benedict's address at the 'Big Assembly'

"When I invite you to become saints, I am asking you not to be content with second best. I am asking you not to pursue one limited goal and ignore all the others."

Archbishop Kelly welcomes the Pope to the Interreligious Gathering

"The story of this land, including the fact that blood was once shed because of conflicts about the way of life Christ, offers specific challenges and opportunities in the ecumenical journey to which the Holy Spirit calls us in our day."

Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks' Address to Pope Benedict

"What led to secularization was that people lost faith in the ability of people of faith to live peaceably together. And we must never go down that road again."

Pope Benedict's Address to Representatives of other Religions

"The quest for the sacred does not devalue other fields of human enquiry. On the contrary, it places them in a context which magnifies their importance, as ways of responsibly exercising our stewardship over creation."

Archbishop of Canterbury's Speech to Pope Benedict

"Meeting as we do as bishops of separated church communities, we must all feel that each of our own ministries is made less by the fact of our dividedness, a very real but imperfect communion."

Pope Benedict's address to the Archbishop of Canterbury

"The context in which dialogue takes place between the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church has evolved in dramatic ways since the private meeting between Pope John XXIII and Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher in 1960."

Pope Benedict's address to Politicians, Diplomats, Academics and Business Leaders in Parliament

"Religion is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation. In this light, I cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalization of religion, particularly of Christianity, that is taking place in some quarters, even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance."

Pope's Ecumenical Celebration

"Our commitment to Christian unity is born of nothing less than our faith in Christ, in this Christ, risen from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father, who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead."

Archbishop of Canterbury's address at Evening Prayer

"In a series of profound and eloquent encyclicals, you have explored these themes for our day, grounding everything in the eternal love of the Holy Trinity, challenging us to hope both for this world and the next, and analysing the ways in which our economic habits have trapped us in a reductive and unworthy style of human living."

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Day Two - 17 September 2010