Catholics in England will have to pay to attend some events during Pope Benedict XVI’s Sept. 16-19 trip to Scotland and England, according to reports in our client paper in London, the Catholic Herald. Catholics will pay 25 pounds ($39) to attend the beatification Mass at Birmingham’s Cofton Park Sept. 19, and the 1,000 priests concelebrating also will have to pay. Attendees at the Sept. 18 vigil at London’s Hyde Park will pay 10 pounds. Read the reasoning behind ticket distribution and prices.
In Washington, Mercy Sister Mary Ann Walsh, the U.S. bishops’ media relations director who has been involved in the planning of three papal trips, said no admission was ever charged for the U.S. events.
In Britain, since tickets will be hard to come by, Catholics are being encouraged to line the streets to see Pope Benedict.
Filed under: clients, CNS, papal trip
“Catholics will pay 25 pounds ($39) to attend the beatification Mass at Birmingham’s Cofton Park Sept. 19, and the 1,000 priests concelebrating also will have to pay.” I can really relate to that quote in every way under the sun.