Pope Benedict XVI Invited to Durham University

A group of faith leaders and officials at the Durham University, in the United Kingdom, have recently extended an invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit the Cathedral at the university. If the pontiff accepts, then this could be the first ever papal visit to the North East of England, which would mark a historic moment. According to a DU mail, a unique partnership of University, Anglican Church and Catholic Church representatives have made the invitation possible. A visit of Vatican representative and HM Ambassador to the Holy Seat HE Francis Campbell to the university in March also contributed.

“The strong academic and ecumenical background of this invitation means there is simply no more appropriate place in the country to host such an academic lecture than Durham. Leaders of the major churches of the region are working together alongside scholars in Durham University’s department of Theology and Religion, which was recently confirmed as the leading research department in its field in the most recent government Research Assessment Exercise,” DU Vice-Chancellor, professor Chris Higgins, says. He is also one of the co-signatories to the letter of invitation.

“Durham has in recent years become a major global center for ecumenical work and the close interlinking of Cathedral and Un... (read more)