I’ve been reading so much nonsense recently about the cost of the Papal Visit. It was refreshing to read something about what Britain will gain financially from Pope Benedict’s presence among us.
After a wonderful day in Glasgow yesterday at Mass with Pope Benedict, I returned to the city today to have a look at Bellahouston without the crowds and then to spend some time with my Passionist brothers at Saint Mungo’s. I bought a newspaper in the railway station on my way home. The front page of Glasgow’s Evening Times had the eye-catching headline “Pope’s £4.2 Million Gift to Glasgow”. The article goes on to say:
The effect of the open-air Mass is expected to be felt far beyond Bellahouston Park as Glasgow took centre stage before a TV audience thought to be one billion strong. Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson, who was introduced to the Pope, said this was an extraordinary chance for the city which had an immediate economic boost of £4.25million. He said: “People across the world will see Glasgow at its best. It is an unprecedented opportunity to profile the city to the world. It’s been a joyous occasion.”
No complaints here about the cost of the visit!
Laus Crucis 
Well said. And the “immediate” benefit of £4.2 suggests the reasonable possibility of ripple effects: a happy thought, indeed.
i believe this good news but the benefit of a papal visit should not have been measured so quickly in financial terms cos it goes way beyond that..join other catholics around the world to learn, teach and spread the catholic faith on wehailmary.com
come lets relate as catholics.
There were two very proud Premonstratensian Canons as we passed this giant poster, which covered our former primary school in Kinning Park, as we whizzed along the motorway from the St Ninian’s day procession in Edinburgh to Bellahouston Park (thanks to the St Francis Pipe Band of the Gorbals!). Our Lady and St Margaret’s school and parish may be no more, but the Faith of our Fathers was living still with this giant advert!