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Image: Pope Benedict XVI chats with Catholic youth outside Westminster Cathedral in central London

Religion

Pope Benedict XVI visits the United Kingdom

The first state visit to the U.K. by a pontiff in centuries is overshadowed by scandals.

/ 26 PHOTOS
Image: Pope Benedict XVI is seen next to his personal secretary, father Gaenswein George, as they arrive at the Ciampino airport in Rome

Pope Benedict XVI, right, is seen next to his personal secretary, father Gaenswein George, as they arrive at the Ciampino airport in Rome on Sunday, Sept. 19, after a four-day visit to England and Scotland.

— Alessandro Bianchi / X90015
Image: Pope Benedict XVI leaves Oscott College seminary in Birmingham, central England

Pope Benedict XVI leaves Oscott College seminary in Birmingham, England, Sept. 19.

— Pool / X80003
Image: Pope Benedict XVI addresses a mass to be

Pope Benedict XVI addresses a mass to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman, pictured in the background, in Birmingham, England, on Sept. 19. Pope Benedict XVI's state visit to Britain has been a "spiritual success", his spokesman said Sunday.

— Adrian Dennis / AFP
Image: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Pays A State Visit To The UK - Day 4

A girl takes holy communion as Pope Benedict XVI takes the beatification mass of Cardinal Newman at Cofton Park on Sept. 19, in Birmingham, England. On the last day of Pope Benedict XVI's state visit, the Pontiff is beatifying Cardinal Newman in front of over 60,000 faithful. His Holiness also met The Queen as well as political and religious representatives during the four day visit.

— Christopher Furlong / Getty Images Europe
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Pilgrims await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in Cofton Park, Birmingham, England, Sept. 19.

— Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
Image: Pope Benedict XVI in London

People crowd Hyde Park during a prayer vigil led by Pope Benedict XVI in London, Sept. 18.

— Gregorio Borgia / AP
Image: Pope Benedict XVI chats with Catholic youth outside Westminster Cathedral in central London

Pope Benedict XVI chats with Catholic youth outside Westminster Cathedral in central London on Sept. 18. Pope Benedict apologised to victims of sexual abuse on Saturday, saying paedophile priests had brought "shame and humiliation" on him and the entire Roman Catholic Church.

— Max Rossi / X90039
Image: Papal visit to UK

Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a celebration of Catholic education at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, in SW LondonFriday. The pope is on a four day visit to the United Kingdom.

— Claudio Onorati / ANSA
Image: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Pays A State Visit To The UK - Day 2

Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a service of prayer at St Mary's University College Chapel during day two of his four day state visit at Twickenham on Friday in London, England.

— Wpa Pool / Getty Images Europe
Image: Pope Benedict XVI (L), meets Britain's C

Pope Benedict XVI meets Britain's Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, during a meeting of religious leaders at St Mary's University College, in Twickenham, south-west London on Friday.

— Toby Melville / AFP
Image: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Pays A State Visit To The UK - Day 2

Police patrol outside the Houses of Parliament ahead of the visit by Pope Benedict XVI, where he will give an address to the Civil Society, Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster on Friday in London.

— Matt Cardy / Getty Images Europe
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Pilgrims depart from buses parked near Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, prior to the papal mass to be celebrated there Thursday afternoon.

— Chris Clark / AP
Image: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Pays A State Visit To The UK - Day 1

Supporters gather ahead of the arrival of Benedict for the papal mass at Bellahouston Park on Thursday.

— Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images Europe
Image: Pope Benedict XVI, centre right, is met by the Duke of Edinburgh

Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip, greets Pope Benedict XVI Thursday as he arrives in Scotland to begin a four-day trip. The trip is the first to the U.K. by a Pontiff since John Paul II in 1982, and the first to be designated a state visit as Queen invited him, rather than the church.

— Andrew Milligan / pool PA
Image: Pope Benedict XVI inspects a guard of honour at Edinburgh Airport in Scotland

The pope inspects a guard of honour at Edinburgh Airport on Thursday.

— Pool / X80003
Image: Crowds watch as Pope Benedict XVI is dri

Crowds watch as the Popemobile makes its way along Edinburgh's Princes Street on Thursday.

— Derek Blair / AFP
Image: Pilgrims display their souvenir scarves

Pilgrims display their souvenir scarves in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on Thursday ahead of a celebration of mass slated for later in the day.

— Leon Neal / AFP
Image: Benedict XVI, Elizabeth II, Prince Philip

Pope Benedict XVI, right on stage, Britain's Prince Philip, left, and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center, inspect an honor guard of members of the Royal Company of Archers and members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland Band as the Pope arrives at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh on Thursday.

— Lefteris Pitarakis / AP POOL
Image: Benedict XVI, Elizabeth II, Prince Philip

The pope's controversial yet historic state trip to the United Kingdom has been overshadowed by the sex abuse scandals which have shaken confidence in the Roman Catholic Church.

— Lefteris Pitarakis / AP POOL
Image: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Pays A State Visit To The UK - Day 1

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip walk with the pope to the Morning Drawing Room in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Scotland on Thursday.

— Dan Kitwood / Getty Images Europe
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Ulster Protestant leader Rev. Ian Paisley, center, is seen at a protest at Magdalen Chapel in Edinburgh as the pope arrives at the city.

— Jon Super / AP
Image: A car drives past an advertising board a

A car drives past an billboard ahead of the pope's visit.

— Paul Ellis / AFP
Image: Papal visit to the UK

A double-decker bus on London's Oxford St. carries a poster urging the pope to ordain women as priests.

— Horacio Villalobos / EPA
Image: Pope Benedict XVI arrives for mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow

Pope Benedict XVI arrives for mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday.

— Nigel Roddis / X02020
Image: Pope Benedict XVI's kisses a baby as he arrives for mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow

Pope Benedict XVI's kisses a baby as he arrives for mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday.

— Nigel Roddis / X02020
Image: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Pays A State Visit To The UK - Day 1

Pope Benedict XVI conducts Mass at Bellahouston Park on Thursday, Sept. 16 in Glasgow, Scotland.

— Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images Europe
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