Pope Benedict XVI made history on Friday by entering three citadels of Britain's Protestantism - Lambeth Palace, Westminster Hall and Westminster Abbey. And in so doing, he may help to finally heal the rift between Protestantism and Catholicism in Britain.
At Westminster Abbey, he also became the first Pope in history to shake hands with a clergywoman.
His first stop was at Lambeth Palace, on the south bank of the Thames, becoming the first Pope in history to step foot inside it. The palace is the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the No2 in the Church of England heirarchy after the Monarch, and has been since the 13th Century.
The Archbishop, Dr Rowan Williams, led the Pope to the Great Hall of the Palace to a gathering of Church of England diocesan bishops and Roman Catholic bishops of England, Scotland and Wales.
The bishops cheered as the pair entered the room and the Pontiff waved at the crowd.
Dr Williams welcomed the Pope and spoke of the historic visit as 'a special time of grace and of growth in our shared calling'.
He said: 'It is a particular pleasure that on this historic occasion we are able to come together as bishops of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches in this country to greet you, Your Holiness, during a visit which we all hope will be of significance both to the Church of Christ and to British society.'
Dr Williams said Christian leaders must be ready to fight back against the critics of religion.
He said their duty 'involves a readiness to respond to the various trends in our cultural environment that seek to present Christian faith as both an obstacle to human freedom and a scandal to human intellect'.
Addressing the bishops, the Pope acknowledged the obstacles to unity between the Catholic and Anglican churches, saying: 'It is not my intention today to speak of the difficulties that the ecumenical path has encountered and continues to encounter. Those difficulties are well known to everyone here.'
He said he wanted to give thanks for 'the deep friendship that has grown between us'
The Pope urged Christians to stand up for their faith, saying: 'We Christians never hesitate to proclaim our faith.'
Once he left Lambeth Palace, the Pope then went to Westminster Hall, also making history by addressing both Houses of Parliament.
The hall, which is part of the Palace of Westminster, Britain's Parliament building, was built on the orders of King William II in the 1090s and is the only surviving part of the previous Houses of Parliament which were burnt to the ground in 1834.
Amongst the 1,800 inside the hall to listen to the Pope's address were Britain's surviving former PMs - Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and John Major - as well as two members of the Coalition Government, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Home Secretary William Hague. Another little bit of history was made in the fact that Blair and Brown, both enemies in the past, sat next to each other!
After an introduction by the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, the Pope then made a speech to MPs about how important it is to defence Christianity in Britain and not to let atheists destroy Christian traditions, such as Christmas.
Attacking the Politically Correct Brigade, the Pope said:
'There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or least relegated to the purely private sphere.'
'There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.
'And there are those who argue - paradoxically, with the intention of eliminating discrimination - that Christians in public roles should be required at times to act against their conscience.
'These are worrying signs of a failure to appreciate not only the rights of believers to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, but also the legitimate role of religion in the public square.'
Westminster Hall was particularly poignant as it is the location where Catholic martyr Sir Thomas More was sentenced to death.
Sir Thomas was tried and condemned in 1535 for refusing to follow King Henry VIII's demand he join him in asking the Pope to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
His refusal led to the king splitting from Rome and setting up the Church of England, a division which still divides Protestants and Catholics to this day.
The Pope then made history again by going to another bastion of British Protestantism - Westminster Abbey. The Abbey is where almost all of England's (and then Britain's) monarchs have been crowned since 1066, monarchs which nowadays must be Church of England only.
At the venue he held a joint service with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In his address, the Archbishop criticised cultural changes which have made people obsessed by work in a bid to give their lives meaning and themselves dignity.
He spoke of Saint Benedict who inspired others to 'the possibility of living in joy and mutual service, in simplicity and self-denial, in a balanced pattern of labour and prayer in which every moment spoke of human dignity fully realised in surrender to a loving God'.
'The Benedictine life proved a sure foundation not only for generations of monks and nuns, but for an entire culture in which productive work and contemplative silence and receptivity - human dignity and human freedom - were both honoured.
'Our own culture, a culture in which so often it seems that "love has grown cold", is one in which we can see the dehumanising effects of losing sight of Benedict's vision.
'Work is so often an anxious and obsessive matter, as if our whole value as human beings depended upon it; and so, consequently, unemployment, still a scourge and a threat in these uncertain financial times, comes to seem like a loss of dignity and meaning in life.
Whilst at the abbey, the Pope also paid his respects to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
The pontiff also made a speech at St Mary's University College in Twickenham, South West London, where he met people of other faiths, including Tory Party chairman Baroness Warsi - Britain's first female Muslim MP - and Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Today is the Pope's last day of his State Visit to Britain. This morning he beatified 19th century Cardinal John Henry Newman at Birmingham's Cofton Park, the first Englishman to be so since England broke from Rome in the 16th Century. He is now attending a lunch in Birmingham with the 32 cardinals of England, Scotland and Wales. Later this evening he will hold a farewell speech at Birmingham Airport for 30 minutes before flying back to Rome.
The visit has been a resounding success, with crowds turning out to greet the Pope much higher than many people expected. The crowds have been so high they have dwarved and drowned out the odd protest held by atheists and left-wingers.
Yesterday morning six street cleaners were arrested at their works in Marylebone, central London, on suspicion of plotting to blow up the Pope. The men are of Algerian and Morroccan descent. However, they have since been released without charge.
Pope's battle to save Christmas: Don't let atheists crush your traditions, Benedict tells Britain
By Steve Doughty
18th September 2010
Daily Mail
Benedict XVI made history by becoming the first Pope to step foot inside Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury's London residence
The Pope issued a clarion call to defend Christianity last night, saying Christmas was at risk of being struck from the calendar.
In a strongly worded speech delivered in Parliament, Benedict XVI bluntly told politicians not to ‘silence’ religion and discourage public celebration of its most important festivals.
And in a thinly veiled attack on controversial equality legislation, he said laws which forced Christians to act against their consciences were wrong.
‘There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,’ he told senior politicians and public figures.
'Don't sideline Christianity': The Pope urges politicians to work to ensure religion has a place in national life during a speech at Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament and the oldest building of its type in Europe
Historic: The Pope enters Westminster Hall, followed by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, the Lord Speaker Baroness Hayman and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams
‘There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.’
He spoke as security was tightened around the Papal visit after the arrest of six central London street sweepers over a suspected terror plot to attack him.
Scotland Yard said there would be no change to his public itinerary, which will see him lead prayers in Hyde Park this evening and travel to Birmingham tomorrow.
In Westminster Hall, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown sat side by side for what was their first meeting in months - and which was probably a tricky encounter in light of Mr Blair's explosive memoirs.
The pair chatted civilly as they waited for the Pope, but their body language at times told a different story.
Address: The Pope also blamed a lack of ethics in economic activity for the world financial crisis
Former Tory PMs Baroness Thatcher and John Major were also in the audience, which applauded the Pope vigorously before and after he spoke.
Benedict, who is now half way through his UK trip, insisted Christianity should not be forced to the sidelines and festivals including Christmas and Easter altered to avoid offence.
In his speech, the Pope said he was voicing his concern at the growing marginalisation of religion - particularly of Christianity - even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance.
'There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or least relegated to the purely private sphere,' he said.
'There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.
'And there are those who argue - paradoxically, with the intention of eliminating discrimination - that Christians in public roles should be required at times to act against their conscience.
'These are worrying signs of a failure to appreciate not only the rights of believers to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, but also the legitimate role of religion in the public square.'
Awkward: The Pope's visit brought Tony Blair and Gordon Brown together for the first time since the publication of Blair's memoirs in which he attacked his former chancellor
Introduction: Pope Benedict XVI, with Commons Speaker John Bercow, was greeted by (from left) Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Cherie Blair, Lady Norma Major, Sir John Major, Baroness Thatcher, William Hague and Nick Clegg
Iconic figures: The Pope meets Baroness Thatcher after his speech
The Pope said a moral failure was to blame for the global financial crisis.
He said: 'There is widespread agreement that the lack of a solid ethical foundation for economic activity has contributed to the grave difficulties now being experienced by millions of people throughout the world.'
And he said that, just as governments had come to the rescue of the banks, judged 'too big to fail', they must now act to help the world's poorest people.
He said: 'Here is an enterprise, worthy of the world's attention, that is truly "too big to fail".'
Pope Benedict XVI has publicly shaken hands with a clergywoman - the first time that a Pope has done so.
The Roman Catholic leader grasped the hand of Reverend Jane Hedges, a prominent Church of England figure and campaigner for the ordination of women, as he arrived at Westminster Abbey in London on Friday on the second day of his state visit to Britain.
He then urged those present to use their 'respective sphere of influence' to ensure religion was involved in discourse 'in every sphere of national life'.
The Pontiff spoke close to the spot where Sir Thomas More was sentenced to death, as he addressed a huge audience of 1,800 dignitaries including four former prime ministers.
Investigation: A police officer stands guard outside the Veolia depot in central London where five men were arrested by police investigating a suspected plot to harm the Pope
Tour: The Pope leaves the Palace of Westminster after giving a speech at the Great Hall
Powerful speech: The Pope waves to crowds on Lambeth Bridge, moments before entering Westminster to speak to dignitaries, when he said Christmas should be defended
Sir Thomas was tried and condemned in 1535 for refusing to follow Henry VIII's demand he join him in asking the Pope to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
His refusal led to the king splitting from Rome and setting up the Church of England, a division which still divides Protestants and Catholics to this day.
After the speech, the Pope went to Westminster Abbey to participate in a joint service with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
Enlarge
In his address, the Archbishop criticised cultural changes which have made people obsessed by work in a bid to give their lives meaning and themselves dignity.
He spoke of Saint Benedict who inspired others to 'the possibility of living in joy and mutual service, in simplicity and self-denial, in a balanced pattern of labour and prayer in which every moment spoke of human dignity fully realised in surrender to a loving God'.
'The Benedictine life proved a sure foundation not only for generations of monks and nuns, but for an entire culture in which productive work and contemplative silence and receptivity - human dignity and human freedom - were both honoured.
Brothers in arms: Both the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke at a joint service at Westminster Abbey
'Our own culture, a culture in which so often it seems that "love has grown cold", is one in which we can see the dehumanising effects of losing sight of Benedict's vision.
'Work is so often an anxious and obsessive matter, as if our whole value as human beings depended upon it; and so, consequently, unemployment, still a scourge and a threat in these uncertain financial times, comes to seem like a loss of dignity and meaning in life.
'We live in an age where there is a desperate need to recover the sense of the dignity of both labour and leisure and the necessity of a silent openness to God that allows our true character to grow and flourish by participating in an eternal love.'
Ahead of the Parliament speech, the Archbishop had welcomed the Pope to Lambeth Palace today for a historic meeting between the two religious leaders.
The Pope made history by becoming the first pontiff to step foot inside Lambeth Palace.
Also in the welcoming committee were the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan and the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Most Rev David Chillingworth.
Lambeth Palace, on the south bank of the River Thames, has been the London residence of archbishops of Canterbury since the 13th century.
It acts as a home for the Archbishop and his family when in London and as the central office for his ministry.
Enlarge
Not happy: The Pope was met by left-wing demonstrators when he arrived at the Palace of Westminster, some with placards saying "The Pope is the anti-Christ" and "Jesus Had TWO Fathers".
Dr Williams led the Pope to the Great Hall of the Palace to a gathering of Church of England diocesan bishops and Roman Catholic bishops of England, Scotland and Wales.
The bishops cheered as the pair entered the room and the Pontiff waved at the crowd.
Dr Williams welcomed the Pope and spoke of the historic visit as 'a special time of grace and of growth in our shared calling'.
He said: 'It is a particular pleasure that on this historic occasion we are able to come together as bishops of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches in this country to greet you, Your Holiness, during a visit which we all hope will be of significance both to the Church of Christ and to British society.
'May this historic visit be for all of us a special time of grace and of growth in our shared calling, as you, Your Holiness, bring us the word of the Gospel afresh.'
Historic: Pope Benedict with the Archbishop of Canterbury this afternoon
The Archbishop of Canterbury greets Benedict XVI at Lambeth Palace
Police on top of Lambeth Palace as the Pope meets the Archbishop of Canterbury
Dr Williams said Christian leaders must be ready to fight back against the critics of religion.
He said their duty 'involves a readiness to respond to the various trends in our cultural environment that seek to present Christian faith as both an obstacle to human freedom and a scandal to human intellect'.
A HALL STEEPED IN UNHAPPY HISTORY FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH
Westminster Hall is the oldest building in Parliament. It dates from the 1090s when it was built on the instructions of King William II - the son of William the Conqueror.
Known as the Great Hall of the Palace of Westminster, it was first used for feasting and entertaining. From the 1180s until 1821, it was used for huge banquets and coronation ceremonies.
King Charles I
When Henry II decreed in the 1100s that judges should sit in one place, it was at Westminster Hall that they presided. And the Royal Courts of Justice stayed there until 1882 when they moved to the Strand.
Because the King's throne was permanently in Westminster Hall, it emphasised the source of the court's authority.
It is now famous as the spot where prominent Catholics and Catholic sympathisers including Sir Thomas More (1535), Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot conspirators (1606) and King Charles I (1649), pictured above, were tried for treason. Charles himself was a Protestant but married a Roman Catholic, raising questions about his faith.
Eleven years after the king was executed, many of those who sent him to his death - including Oliver Cromwell - were tried in the same place.
The last major trial was Viscount Melville's in 1806 and today the Hall is generally used for ceremonial purposes and exhibitions.
It is also traditionally where monarchs, and sometimes former Prime Ministers, lie in state before their funerals - as for the Queen Mother in 2002 (above).
The building has survived two major fires. In 1834, a blaze ripped through the Houses of Parliament but the Hall survived after Lord Melbourne, then Prime Minister, ordered the roof to be doused with water.
A fire also took hold in 1941 after Parliament was bombed but on the insistence of Colonel Walter Elliot MP the Hall was saved in preference to the Commons Chamber. The Commons burned for two days but the Hall survived.
Dr Williams continued: 'Our presence together as British bishops here today is a sign of the way in which, in this country, we see our task as one and indivisible.
'Our fervent prayer is that this visit will give us fresh energy and vision for working together. 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.
'Perhaps we shall not quickly overcome the remaining obstacles to full, restored communion. But no obstacles stand in the way of our seeking, as a matter of joyful obedience to the Lord, more ways in which to build up one another in holiness by prayer and public celebration together, by closer friendship, and by growing together both in the challenging work of service for all whom Christ loves, and mission to all God has made.'
Addressing the bishops, the Pope acknowledged the obstacles to unity between the Catholic and Anglican churches, saying: 'It is not my intention today to speak of the difficulties that the ecumenical path has encountered and continues to encounter. Those difficulties are well known to everyone here.'
He said he wanted to give thanks for 'the deep friendship that has grown between us'.
The Pope said society was moving away from its Christian heritage.
He said: 'On the one hand, the surrounding culture is growing ever more distant from its Christian roots, despite a deep and widespread hunger for spiritual nourishment.
'On the other hand, the increasingly multicultural dimension of society, particularly marked in this country, brings with it the opportunity to encounter other religions.'
He said moves towards unity in the two churches 'will surely bear fruit in promoting peace and harmony in a world that so often seems at risk of fragmentation'.
The Pope urged Christians to stand up for their faith, saying: 'We Christians never hesitate to proclaim our faith.'
The Archbishop and the Pope then exchanged gifts. Dr Williams presented the Pontiff with a leather-bound diptych - two panels hinged together - of facsimiles of illuminations from the 12th-century Lambeth Bible.
The two panels represent the Biblical story from Genesis to Christ and the Church.
The Romanesque-style Bible is thought to have been written and illustrated in Canterbury between 1150 and 1170.
Yesterday morning, protesters took to the streets to disrupt the Pontiff's movements around London but there was little actual trouble.
Models for social networking site Gaydar, scantily dressed as angels, joined demonstrators waiting outside St Mary's University College in Twickenham where he met children.
Angry demonstrators brandished posters declaring 'Catholic paedophile - Cover up' and 'Protect the children, not the Church' at the entrance gate.
The Pontiff meets Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks at St Mary's University College Chapel
The Pope with Cabinet minister Baroness Warsi at the College Chapel in Twickenham
Commons Speaker John Bercow also gave a speech praising the Pope, but his contribution was overshadowed by an outspoken intervention from his wife.
Sally Bercow, a would-be Labour MP last night used social networking website Twitter to join secular attacks which have been led by comedian Stephen Fry.
Soliciting donations for a 10,000ft parachute jump for a gay, lesbian and bi-sexual charity, she wrote: 'The Pope has landed!
'Mark the occasion by sponsoring my parachute jump for Stonewall UK and gay rights.' In a later tweet she joked: 'No I'm not going to land on the Pope'.
A spokesman for the Speaker said: 'Mrs Speaker will not be attending the event.'
One leading Catholic MP, who did not want to be named, said of her tweet: 'These comments are disappointing and offensive given the important constitutional role the Speaker has at this historic state visit.'
Tory MP Nadine Dorries said Mrs Bercow just 'didn't get it' and was 'letting us all down'.
A spokesman for Mr Bercow said the Speaker - who previously represented the Tories in the Commons - had no comment to make.
Splendour: The Pope walking through the Chapel at St Mary's University College
Keeping calm and carrying on: The arrests did not disrupt the Pope's schedule
dailymail.co.uk
At Westminster Abbey, he also became the first Pope in history to shake hands with a clergywoman.
His first stop was at Lambeth Palace, on the south bank of the Thames, becoming the first Pope in history to step foot inside it. The palace is the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the No2 in the Church of England heirarchy after the Monarch, and has been since the 13th Century.
The Archbishop, Dr Rowan Williams, led the Pope to the Great Hall of the Palace to a gathering of Church of England diocesan bishops and Roman Catholic bishops of England, Scotland and Wales.
The bishops cheered as the pair entered the room and the Pontiff waved at the crowd.
Dr Williams welcomed the Pope and spoke of the historic visit as 'a special time of grace and of growth in our shared calling'.
He said: 'It is a particular pleasure that on this historic occasion we are able to come together as bishops of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches in this country to greet you, Your Holiness, during a visit which we all hope will be of significance both to the Church of Christ and to British society.'
Dr Williams said Christian leaders must be ready to fight back against the critics of religion.
He said their duty 'involves a readiness to respond to the various trends in our cultural environment that seek to present Christian faith as both an obstacle to human freedom and a scandal to human intellect'.
Addressing the bishops, the Pope acknowledged the obstacles to unity between the Catholic and Anglican churches, saying: 'It is not my intention today to speak of the difficulties that the ecumenical path has encountered and continues to encounter. Those difficulties are well known to everyone here.'
He said he wanted to give thanks for 'the deep friendship that has grown between us'
The Pope urged Christians to stand up for their faith, saying: 'We Christians never hesitate to proclaim our faith.'
Once he left Lambeth Palace, the Pope then went to Westminster Hall, also making history by addressing both Houses of Parliament.
The hall, which is part of the Palace of Westminster, Britain's Parliament building, was built on the orders of King William II in the 1090s and is the only surviving part of the previous Houses of Parliament which were burnt to the ground in 1834.
Amongst the 1,800 inside the hall to listen to the Pope's address were Britain's surviving former PMs - Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and John Major - as well as two members of the Coalition Government, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Home Secretary William Hague. Another little bit of history was made in the fact that Blair and Brown, both enemies in the past, sat next to each other!
After an introduction by the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, the Pope then made a speech to MPs about how important it is to defence Christianity in Britain and not to let atheists destroy Christian traditions, such as Christmas.
Attacking the Politically Correct Brigade, the Pope said:
'There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or least relegated to the purely private sphere.'
'There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.
'And there are those who argue - paradoxically, with the intention of eliminating discrimination - that Christians in public roles should be required at times to act against their conscience.
'These are worrying signs of a failure to appreciate not only the rights of believers to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, but also the legitimate role of religion in the public square.'
Westminster Hall was particularly poignant as it is the location where Catholic martyr Sir Thomas More was sentenced to death.
Sir Thomas was tried and condemned in 1535 for refusing to follow King Henry VIII's demand he join him in asking the Pope to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
His refusal led to the king splitting from Rome and setting up the Church of England, a division which still divides Protestants and Catholics to this day.
The Pope then made history again by going to another bastion of British Protestantism - Westminster Abbey. The Abbey is where almost all of England's (and then Britain's) monarchs have been crowned since 1066, monarchs which nowadays must be Church of England only.
At the venue he held a joint service with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In his address, the Archbishop criticised cultural changes which have made people obsessed by work in a bid to give their lives meaning and themselves dignity.
He spoke of Saint Benedict who inspired others to 'the possibility of living in joy and mutual service, in simplicity and self-denial, in a balanced pattern of labour and prayer in which every moment spoke of human dignity fully realised in surrender to a loving God'.
'The Benedictine life proved a sure foundation not only for generations of monks and nuns, but for an entire culture in which productive work and contemplative silence and receptivity - human dignity and human freedom - were both honoured.
'Our own culture, a culture in which so often it seems that "love has grown cold", is one in which we can see the dehumanising effects of losing sight of Benedict's vision.
'Work is so often an anxious and obsessive matter, as if our whole value as human beings depended upon it; and so, consequently, unemployment, still a scourge and a threat in these uncertain financial times, comes to seem like a loss of dignity and meaning in life.
Whilst at the abbey, the Pope also paid his respects to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
The pontiff also made a speech at St Mary's University College in Twickenham, South West London, where he met people of other faiths, including Tory Party chairman Baroness Warsi - Britain's first female Muslim MP - and Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Today is the Pope's last day of his State Visit to Britain. This morning he beatified 19th century Cardinal John Henry Newman at Birmingham's Cofton Park, the first Englishman to be so since England broke from Rome in the 16th Century. He is now attending a lunch in Birmingham with the 32 cardinals of England, Scotland and Wales. Later this evening he will hold a farewell speech at Birmingham Airport for 30 minutes before flying back to Rome.
The visit has been a resounding success, with crowds turning out to greet the Pope much higher than many people expected. The crowds have been so high they have dwarved and drowned out the odd protest held by atheists and left-wingers.
Yesterday morning six street cleaners were arrested at their works in Marylebone, central London, on suspicion of plotting to blow up the Pope. The men are of Algerian and Morroccan descent. However, they have since been released without charge.
Pope's battle to save Christmas: Don't let atheists crush your traditions, Benedict tells Britain
By Steve Doughty
18th September 2010
Daily Mail
- Easter and Christmas should not be discouraged by fear of offending others
- Christians in public roles should be allowed to act according to conscience
- Lack of ethical foundation resulted in financial crisis, he tells politicians
- Applause for Pope as he continues without incident despite terror threat
Benedict XVI made history by becoming the first Pope to step foot inside Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury's London residence
The Pope issued a clarion call to defend Christianity last night, saying Christmas was at risk of being struck from the calendar.
In a strongly worded speech delivered in Parliament, Benedict XVI bluntly told politicians not to ‘silence’ religion and discourage public celebration of its most important festivals.
And in a thinly veiled attack on controversial equality legislation, he said laws which forced Christians to act against their consciences were wrong.
‘There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or at least relegated to the purely private sphere,’ he told senior politicians and public figures.
'Don't sideline Christianity': The Pope urges politicians to work to ensure religion has a place in national life during a speech at Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament and the oldest building of its type in Europe
Historic: The Pope enters Westminster Hall, followed by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, the Lord Speaker Baroness Hayman and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams
‘There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.’
He spoke as security was tightened around the Papal visit after the arrest of six central London street sweepers over a suspected terror plot to attack him.
Scotland Yard said there would be no change to his public itinerary, which will see him lead prayers in Hyde Park this evening and travel to Birmingham tomorrow.
In Westminster Hall, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown sat side by side for what was their first meeting in months - and which was probably a tricky encounter in light of Mr Blair's explosive memoirs.
The pair chatted civilly as they waited for the Pope, but their body language at times told a different story.
Address: The Pope also blamed a lack of ethics in economic activity for the world financial crisis
Former Tory PMs Baroness Thatcher and John Major were also in the audience, which applauded the Pope vigorously before and after he spoke.
Benedict, who is now half way through his UK trip, insisted Christianity should not be forced to the sidelines and festivals including Christmas and Easter altered to avoid offence.
In his speech, the Pope said he was voicing his concern at the growing marginalisation of religion - particularly of Christianity - even in nations which place a great emphasis on tolerance.
'There are those who would advocate that the voice of religion be silenced, or least relegated to the purely private sphere,' he said.
'There are those who argue that the public celebration of festivals such as Christmas should be discouraged, in the questionable belief that it might somehow offend those of other religions or none.
'And there are those who argue - paradoxically, with the intention of eliminating discrimination - that Christians in public roles should be required at times to act against their conscience.
'These are worrying signs of a failure to appreciate not only the rights of believers to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, but also the legitimate role of religion in the public square.'
Awkward: The Pope's visit brought Tony Blair and Gordon Brown together for the first time since the publication of Blair's memoirs in which he attacked his former chancellor
Introduction: Pope Benedict XVI, with Commons Speaker John Bercow, was greeted by (from left) Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Cherie Blair, Lady Norma Major, Sir John Major, Baroness Thatcher, William Hague and Nick Clegg
Iconic figures: The Pope meets Baroness Thatcher after his speech
The Pope said a moral failure was to blame for the global financial crisis.
He said: 'There is widespread agreement that the lack of a solid ethical foundation for economic activity has contributed to the grave difficulties now being experienced by millions of people throughout the world.'
And he said that, just as governments had come to the rescue of the banks, judged 'too big to fail', they must now act to help the world's poorest people.
He said: 'Here is an enterprise, worthy of the world's attention, that is truly "too big to fail".'
Pope Benedict XVI has publicly shaken hands with a clergywoman - the first time that a Pope has done so.
The Roman Catholic leader grasped the hand of Reverend Jane Hedges, a prominent Church of England figure and campaigner for the ordination of women, as he arrived at Westminster Abbey in London on Friday on the second day of his state visit to Britain.
He then urged those present to use their 'respective sphere of influence' to ensure religion was involved in discourse 'in every sphere of national life'.
The Pontiff spoke close to the spot where Sir Thomas More was sentenced to death, as he addressed a huge audience of 1,800 dignitaries including four former prime ministers.
Investigation: A police officer stands guard outside the Veolia depot in central London where five men were arrested by police investigating a suspected plot to harm the Pope
Tour: The Pope leaves the Palace of Westminster after giving a speech at the Great Hall
Powerful speech: The Pope waves to crowds on Lambeth Bridge, moments before entering Westminster to speak to dignitaries, when he said Christmas should be defended
Sir Thomas was tried and condemned in 1535 for refusing to follow Henry VIII's demand he join him in asking the Pope to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
His refusal led to the king splitting from Rome and setting up the Church of England, a division which still divides Protestants and Catholics to this day.
After the speech, the Pope went to Westminster Abbey to participate in a joint service with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
Enlarge
In his address, the Archbishop criticised cultural changes which have made people obsessed by work in a bid to give their lives meaning and themselves dignity.
He spoke of Saint Benedict who inspired others to 'the possibility of living in joy and mutual service, in simplicity and self-denial, in a balanced pattern of labour and prayer in which every moment spoke of human dignity fully realised in surrender to a loving God'.
'The Benedictine life proved a sure foundation not only for generations of monks and nuns, but for an entire culture in which productive work and contemplative silence and receptivity - human dignity and human freedom - were both honoured.
Brothers in arms: Both the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke at a joint service at Westminster Abbey
'Our own culture, a culture in which so often it seems that "love has grown cold", is one in which we can see the dehumanising effects of losing sight of Benedict's vision.
'Work is so often an anxious and obsessive matter, as if our whole value as human beings depended upon it; and so, consequently, unemployment, still a scourge and a threat in these uncertain financial times, comes to seem like a loss of dignity and meaning in life.
'We live in an age where there is a desperate need to recover the sense of the dignity of both labour and leisure and the necessity of a silent openness to God that allows our true character to grow and flourish by participating in an eternal love.'
Ahead of the Parliament speech, the Archbishop had welcomed the Pope to Lambeth Palace today for a historic meeting between the two religious leaders.
The Pope made history by becoming the first pontiff to step foot inside Lambeth Palace.
Also in the welcoming committee were the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan and the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Most Rev David Chillingworth.
Lambeth Palace, on the south bank of the River Thames, has been the London residence of archbishops of Canterbury since the 13th century.
It acts as a home for the Archbishop and his family when in London and as the central office for his ministry.
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Not happy: The Pope was met by left-wing demonstrators when he arrived at the Palace of Westminster, some with placards saying "The Pope is the anti-Christ" and "Jesus Had TWO Fathers".
Dr Williams led the Pope to the Great Hall of the Palace to a gathering of Church of England diocesan bishops and Roman Catholic bishops of England, Scotland and Wales.
The bishops cheered as the pair entered the room and the Pontiff waved at the crowd.
Dr Williams welcomed the Pope and spoke of the historic visit as 'a special time of grace and of growth in our shared calling'.
He said: 'It is a particular pleasure that on this historic occasion we are able to come together as bishops of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches in this country to greet you, Your Holiness, during a visit which we all hope will be of significance both to the Church of Christ and to British society.
'May this historic visit be for all of us a special time of grace and of growth in our shared calling, as you, Your Holiness, bring us the word of the Gospel afresh.'
Historic: Pope Benedict with the Archbishop of Canterbury this afternoon
The Archbishop of Canterbury greets Benedict XVI at Lambeth Palace
Police on top of Lambeth Palace as the Pope meets the Archbishop of Canterbury
Dr Williams said Christian leaders must be ready to fight back against the critics of religion.
He said their duty 'involves a readiness to respond to the various trends in our cultural environment that seek to present Christian faith as both an obstacle to human freedom and a scandal to human intellect'.
A HALL STEEPED IN UNHAPPY HISTORY FOR CATHOLIC CHURCH
Westminster Hall is the oldest building in Parliament. It dates from the 1090s when it was built on the instructions of King William II - the son of William the Conqueror.
Known as the Great Hall of the Palace of Westminster, it was first used for feasting and entertaining. From the 1180s until 1821, it was used for huge banquets and coronation ceremonies.
King Charles I
When Henry II decreed in the 1100s that judges should sit in one place, it was at Westminster Hall that they presided. And the Royal Courts of Justice stayed there until 1882 when they moved to the Strand.
Because the King's throne was permanently in Westminster Hall, it emphasised the source of the court's authority.
It is now famous as the spot where prominent Catholics and Catholic sympathisers including Sir Thomas More (1535), Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot conspirators (1606) and King Charles I (1649), pictured above, were tried for treason. Charles himself was a Protestant but married a Roman Catholic, raising questions about his faith.
Eleven years after the king was executed, many of those who sent him to his death - including Oliver Cromwell - were tried in the same place.
The last major trial was Viscount Melville's in 1806 and today the Hall is generally used for ceremonial purposes and exhibitions.
It is also traditionally where monarchs, and sometimes former Prime Ministers, lie in state before their funerals - as for the Queen Mother in 2002 (above).
The building has survived two major fires. In 1834, a blaze ripped through the Houses of Parliament but the Hall survived after Lord Melbourne, then Prime Minister, ordered the roof to be doused with water.
A fire also took hold in 1941 after Parliament was bombed but on the insistence of Colonel Walter Elliot MP the Hall was saved in preference to the Commons Chamber. The Commons burned for two days but the Hall survived.
Dr Williams continued: 'Our presence together as British bishops here today is a sign of the way in which, in this country, we see our task as one and indivisible.
'Our fervent prayer is that this visit will give us fresh energy and vision for working together. 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.
'Perhaps we shall not quickly overcome the remaining obstacles to full, restored communion. But no obstacles stand in the way of our seeking, as a matter of joyful obedience to the Lord, more ways in which to build up one another in holiness by prayer and public celebration together, by closer friendship, and by growing together both in the challenging work of service for all whom Christ loves, and mission to all God has made.'
Addressing the bishops, the Pope acknowledged the obstacles to unity between the Catholic and Anglican churches, saying: 'It is not my intention today to speak of the difficulties that the ecumenical path has encountered and continues to encounter. Those difficulties are well known to everyone here.'
He said he wanted to give thanks for 'the deep friendship that has grown between us'.
The Pope said society was moving away from its Christian heritage.
He said: 'On the one hand, the surrounding culture is growing ever more distant from its Christian roots, despite a deep and widespread hunger for spiritual nourishment.
'On the other hand, the increasingly multicultural dimension of society, particularly marked in this country, brings with it the opportunity to encounter other religions.'
He said moves towards unity in the two churches 'will surely bear fruit in promoting peace and harmony in a world that so often seems at risk of fragmentation'.
The Pope urged Christians to stand up for their faith, saying: 'We Christians never hesitate to proclaim our faith.'
The Archbishop and the Pope then exchanged gifts. Dr Williams presented the Pontiff with a leather-bound diptych - two panels hinged together - of facsimiles of illuminations from the 12th-century Lambeth Bible.
The two panels represent the Biblical story from Genesis to Christ and the Church.
The Romanesque-style Bible is thought to have been written and illustrated in Canterbury between 1150 and 1170.
Yesterday morning, protesters took to the streets to disrupt the Pontiff's movements around London but there was little actual trouble.
Models for social networking site Gaydar, scantily dressed as angels, joined demonstrators waiting outside St Mary's University College in Twickenham where he met children.
Angry demonstrators brandished posters declaring 'Catholic paedophile - Cover up' and 'Protect the children, not the Church' at the entrance gate.
The Pontiff meets Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks at St Mary's University College Chapel
The Pope with Cabinet minister Baroness Warsi at the College Chapel in Twickenham
Commons Speaker John Bercow also gave a speech praising the Pope, but his contribution was overshadowed by an outspoken intervention from his wife.
Sally Bercow, a would-be Labour MP last night used social networking website Twitter to join secular attacks which have been led by comedian Stephen Fry.
Soliciting donations for a 10,000ft parachute jump for a gay, lesbian and bi-sexual charity, she wrote: 'The Pope has landed!
'Mark the occasion by sponsoring my parachute jump for Stonewall UK and gay rights.' In a later tweet she joked: 'No I'm not going to land on the Pope'.
A spokesman for the Speaker said: 'Mrs Speaker will not be attending the event.'
One leading Catholic MP, who did not want to be named, said of her tweet: 'These comments are disappointing and offensive given the important constitutional role the Speaker has at this historic state visit.'
Tory MP Nadine Dorries said Mrs Bercow just 'didn't get it' and was 'letting us all down'.
A spokesman for Mr Bercow said the Speaker - who previously represented the Tories in the Commons - had no comment to make.
Splendour: The Pope walking through the Chapel at St Mary's University College
Keeping calm and carrying on: The arrests did not disrupt the Pope's schedule
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