The Falklands war was in full swing and John Paul II was in London as the first pope ever to set foot on English soil.
Even as he snubbed Margaret Thatcher and prayed for peace in implicit criticism of Britain ”” whose troops were battling Catholic Argentines ”” the pontiff received a rapturous welcome and was described in glowing terms by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
His successor, Benedict XVI, can expect a far cooler ”” if not at times downright hostile ”” reception in his upcoming state visit.
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AP: Different pope, different times for British trip
The Falklands war was in full swing and John Paul II was in London as the first pope ever to set foot on English soil.
Even as he snubbed Margaret Thatcher and prayed for peace in implicit criticism of Britain ”” whose troops were battling Catholic Argentines ”” the pontiff received a rapturous welcome and was described in glowing terms by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
His successor, Benedict XVI, can expect a far cooler ”” if not at times downright hostile ”” reception in his upcoming state visit.
Read it all.