Pope Benedict XVI has bid farewell to Britain after Prime Minister David Cameron thanked him for the “searching questions” he posed to the nation The Pontiff, before setting off for the Vatican from Birmingham Airport, said: “Thank you for the warmth of your welcome and for the hospitality that I have enjoyed.
“The very diversity of modern Britain is a challenge… but it also represents a great opportunity to further intercultural and inter-religious dialogue for the enrichment of the entire community.”
The four-day Papal visit has, at times, been an uncomfortable one for the Government.
He attacked what he called “aggressive secularism” and warned against the “marginalisation” of Christianity in Britain.
But Mr Cameron, in a ceremony before the Pope’s flight, thanked him for challenging Britain to “sit up and think”.
The PM said: “People do not have to share a religious faith or agree with religion on everything to see the benefit of asking the searching questions that you, your Holiness, have posed to us about our society and how we treat ourselves and treat each other. – Skynews
