Final preparations underway for Papal visit

Sep 15 2010 By Carla Callaghan

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI will be saying mass to around 85,000 worshipers at Bellahouston Park today (Thursday September 16).

The leader of the Catholic Church will fly into Edinburgh from Rome, where he will first meet with the Queen at Holyrood House.

At 11:40 a.m, the Holy Father will address the authorities in the park of the palace, after which he will depart for lunch in the archbishop's residence in that same city.

His route will take him via Princes Street where a St Ninian's Day Pageant will be held, culminating in the Holy Father's driving along the street in the Popemobile.

Afterwards, Pope Benedict XVI will travel in a convoy of around 15 cars to Bellahouston Park in Glasgow's Southside, where he will serve mass at 5.15pm.

The Glasgow Mass will be broadcast live on Radio Scotland MW on Thursday at 5pm and on BBC2 from 5pm-7.30pm.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, was born at the Diocese of Passau (Germany) on 16 April 1927. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1951.

On 6 November 1998, Cardinal Ratzinger was appointed Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals and on 30 November 2002, the Holy Father approved his election, by the order of Cardinal Bishops, as Dean of the College of Cardinals.

On Tuesday, 19 April, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected the 265th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, selecting the name Benedict XVI.

If you have any pictures from your day at Bellahouston Park, and even a few words which you would like to include about this special event, then please email pictures and words to ccallaghan@s-un.co.uk

For information and guidance on what you can and cannot take along with you to the Bellahouston mass, please visit the Archdiocese of Glasgow website by clicking here

Travel restrictions are in place for both Glasgow and Edinburgh, for more information on Glasgow travel restrictions please click here

For information on travel restrictions and road closures in Edinburgh, please click here