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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Pope to visit Britain in 2010 | Pope to visit Britain in 2010 |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Pope Benedict XVI is to visit the UK in January 2010, the BBC has learned. | Pope Benedict XVI is to visit the UK in January 2010, the BBC has learned. |
| It will be the first papal visit to Britain since 1982, when Pope John Paul II's six-day tour drew huge crowds. | It will be the first papal visit to Britain since 1982, when Pope John Paul II's six-day tour drew huge crowds. |
| Masses were held in cities including Cardiff, London, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh and he also met the Queen and Archbishop of Canterbury. | Masses were held in cities including Cardiff, London, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh and he also met the Queen and Archbishop of Canterbury. |
| The news of Pope Benedict's visit comes two years after the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales sent him a formal invitation. | The news of Pope Benedict's visit comes two years after the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales sent him a formal invitation. |
| Gordon Brown also extended a formal invitation to the Pope during a private audience in February. | |
| The trip is set to be the first official state visit by a pontiff. | |
| John Paul II's visit in May 1982 was on a pastoral basis and did not follow an official invitation by the UK government. | |
| It is thought the visit will be formally announced shortly by the Vatican. |