Christianity threatened in hostile world, says Pope

THE Pope has expressed fears for Christianity's future as he took part in a string of historic visits in London.

Benedict XVI warned of the faith's "increasing marginalisation" on a day which saw him make first visits by a pontiff to Lambeth Palace and Westminster Abbey.

As crowds of supporters and thousands of protesters crammed the streets of Westminster to catch a glimpse of the religious leader, he repeatedly argued religion should be recognised for its "vital" contribution to the nation.

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The Pontiff told MPs, peers, and religious leaders in Westminster Hall that there were "worrying signs" of a failure to appreciate the rights of believers to freedom of conscience and the "legitimate" role of religion in public life.

He also said a moral failure was to blame for the global financial crisis.

On a number of occasions during the Popemobile's journeys through Westminster, he blessed babies which were taken from the crowd by security officers. But while some chanted "Benedict, we love you", critics booed and jeered.

He ended his tour at Westminster Abbey where he publicly shook hands with a clergywoman, the Rev Dr Jane Hedges, for the first time.

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During his address at the Abbey service, which he led alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, the Pope spoke of the need for Christians to talk about their faith even though society had become "increasingly indifferent or even hostile".

It was one of numerous references the Pope made to society's move away from its Christian heritage.

In his keynote speech at Westminster Hall, 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.

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"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."

He had earlier been warmly greeted by the Archbishop at Lambeth Palace. The Archbishop told the Pope: "You are here for another historic meeting and you are most welcome."

He went on to say 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".

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The Pope began the day with a reference to the child abuse scandal. Speaking at the Chapel of St Mary's University College in Twickenham, south-west London, he said: "I wish to add a particular word of appreciation for those whose task it is to ensure that our schools provide a safe environment for children and young people.

"Our responsibility towards those entrusted to us for their Christian formation demands nothing less."

INTELLIGENT ALIENS 'GOD'S CHILDREN

Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away, there could be souls waiting to be saved, according to the Pope's astronomer. Brother Guy Consolmagno said any intelligent aliens living elsewhere in the universe should be considered God's children.

Brother Consolmagno told the British Science Festival at in Birmingham: "Going back to the Middle Ages, the definition of a soul is to have intelligence, free will, freedom to love or not to love, freedom to make decisions...any entity – no matter how many tentacles it has – has a soul."