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Saint
George's Cathedral
Anointing of the Sick
Friday,
28th May 1982 |
The plane bringing Pope John Paul II touched down at Gatwick just
after 8:00 am.
He kissed the ground before being formally welcomed by Cardinal
Basil Hume
and the Duke of Norfolk, representing the Queen.
He travelled by special train to London Victoria and celebrated Mass
in Westminster Cathedral.
During the Mass he baptised four adults.
After Mass he appeared on the Cathedral balcony and blessed the
crowds in the piazza.
After lunch at Archbishop's House, Westminster, he left for
Buckingham Palace for a private meeting
with the Queen.
He then travelled by motorcade past the Houses of Parliament and
across Westminster Bridge
to Saint George's Cathedral, Southwark, where he took part in a
moving service of anointing of the sick.
The pews had been taken out of the Cathedral. The main aisle was
filled with stretchers and the side
aisles with wheelchairs for the sick, handicapped and terminally
ill.
The Cathedral car park had been transformed into an auditorium where
people followed the service on televisions. These too saw the Pope
in person when he
came out give his homily and to bless them from the dais.
Pope John Paul II's
homily at the Vatican website
After the anointing of the sick, the Pope returned to Archbishop's
House, Westminster
for a private meeting with the Bishops of England and Wales.
Window commemorating the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Cathedral
Below: detail
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