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Pope aide pulls out of trip after 'Third World jibe | |
(40 minutes later) | |
A senior Papal adviser has pulled out of the Pope's UK visit after saying arriving at Heathrow airport was like landing in a "Third World" country. | |
Cardinal Walter Kasper reportedly told a German magazine the UK was marked by "a new and aggressive atheism". | |
The Vatican said the 77-year-old cardinal had not intended "any kind of slight", and was referring to the UK's multicultural society. | |
It added that he had simply pulled out of the Pope's visit due to illness. | It added that he had simply pulled out of the Pope's visit due to illness. |
The German-born cardinal was quoted as saying to the country's Focus magazine that "when you land at Heathrow you think at times you have landed in a Third World country". | The German-born cardinal was quoted as saying to the country's Focus magazine that "when you land at Heathrow you think at times you have landed in a Third World country". |
He also criticised British Airways (BA), saying that when you wear a cross on the airline "you are discriminated against". | He also criticised British Airways (BA), saying that when you wear a cross on the airline "you are discriminated against". |
In 2006 a BA employee was told to stop wearing a cross at work. She took the case to an employment tribunal claiming religious discrimination, but lost, also losing her subsequent appeal. | In 2006 a BA employee was told to stop wearing a cross at work. She took the case to an employment tribunal claiming religious discrimination, but lost, also losing her subsequent appeal. |
BA changed its uniform rules in 2007, allowing staff to display a faith or charity symbol. | BA changed its uniform rules in 2007, allowing staff to display a faith or charity symbol. |
Vatican sources said Cardinal Kasper - who stepped down in July as the head of the department that deals with other Christian denominations - was suffering from gout and had been advised by his doctors not to travel to the UK. | Vatican sources said Cardinal Kasper - who stepped down in July as the head of the department that deals with other Christian denominations - was suffering from gout and had been advised by his doctors not to travel to the UK. |
Not all of the cardinal's comments in the interview were critical of the UK. | Not all of the cardinal's comments in the interview were critical of the UK. |
He also said: "Everyone who knows England knows that there is also a great Christian tradition there." | He also said: "Everyone who knows England knows that there is also a great Christian tradition there." |
'Talking nonsense' | 'Talking nonsense' |
The Pope is spending four days in Scotland and England, starting on Thursday. | The Pope is spending four days in Scotland and England, starting on Thursday. |
The BBC's correspondent in Rome, David Willey, said the cardinal's reported comments were "a slightly clumsy thing to have done on the eve of the visit". | The BBC's correspondent in Rome, David Willey, said the cardinal's reported comments were "a slightly clumsy thing to have done on the eve of the visit". |
However, he added that he did not think it would have much effect on the Pope's trip to the UK. | However, he added that he did not think it would have much effect on the Pope's trip to the UK. |
Clifford Longley, from Catholic newspaper The Tablet, said the cardinal was "obviously talking nonsense". | Clifford Longley, from Catholic newspaper The Tablet, said the cardinal was "obviously talking nonsense". |
"I don't think he believes Britain is in the grip of secular atheism, and he shouldn't have said so," said Mr Longley. | "I don't think he believes Britain is in the grip of secular atheism, and he shouldn't have said so," said Mr Longley. |
"They are saying it is ill health [that has forced the cardinal to drop out of the visit], but I wonder if that is the fact. I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassment." | "They are saying it is ill health [that has forced the cardinal to drop out of the visit], but I wonder if that is the fact. I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassment." |
British Airways said the cardinal had been "seriously misinformed" in his claims about the airline. | British Airways said the cardinal had been "seriously misinformed" in his claims about the airline. |
"It is completely untrue that we discriminate against Christians or members of any faith," it said in a statement. | "It is completely untrue that we discriminate against Christians or members of any faith," it said in a statement. |