Pope Benedict XVI visits Britain

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has paid a four day state visit to Great Britain.He started his tour at Glasgow airport where Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband met him off the aeroplane. He was taken to Holyrood House, the official residence in Edinburgh of Her Majesty. The Queen made the journey to Edinburgh from her holiday palace in Balmoral, especially to greet the Pope, who was making the first official visit to Great Britain of a pontiff. Pope John Paul II paid a visit in 1982, but his visit was only a 'pastoral' visit and not a state visit.His Holiness has made tours across the country, and has been the first Pope to hold a service in Westminster Abbey.Today (Sunday) is the last day of his visit to the UK. He is holding a ceremony for the beautification of Cardinal Newman, a man who died in the 19th century. His beautification is the last step on his way to sainthood, and it was the first done by this present pope. Thousands of people have braved the rain to go to the open-air mass in Birmingham, in the Midlands of the country.