John Henry Newman’s motto “Heart speaks unto heart” is emerging as the unifying idea of Pope Benedict XVI’s state visit to Great Britain in September. If that helps it to succeed, the Catholic community will have Newman to thank, which is as it should be. Pope Benedict has always been fascinated by him. The chance to preside over his beatifi­cation ceremony in person in Newman’s native landscape was enough to sweep precedents aside – Pope Benedict does not usually conduct beatifications. It would not be surprising, however, if he were daunted by the challenge. Britain in particular has a reputation as the most secular society in Europe, despite census figures showing that more than three-quarters of its citizens identify themselves as having religious belief. But the Pope will not be content to address just the practising Catholics. Indeed, it is in the very nature of a state visit that he should engage with the population at large.

He should not assume people’s apathy or indifference. Part of what secular British society has lost touch with is its own past, including that part of British history – the major part – when Britain was Catholic. Some may also be said to be in the process of losing touch with their own souls, with that part of themselves which is an image of their Creator. This is an unhealthy condition to be in, so in a sense the Pope comes as a healer. One thing he can certainly try to heal is the perception in the public square of religious faith as a “problem”. Faith in God is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be discovered. He can offer an invitation to look again to those who have drifted from faith, including the five million self-defined Catholics who do not go to Mass, and the equally large numbers who have lost touch with the Church of England or one of the other Churches. He can offer an invitation to look afresh to the much greater number, possibly 80 per cent of the population, ...

Among the greatest achievements of the Catholic Church in Britain, since the restoration of first the English and Welsh hierarchy in 1850 and the Scottish in 1878, has been the creation of its successful schools. They have remained popular with parents and have played a considerable role in transforming what was a poor, predominantly working-class and migrant community into a well-educated minority with its fair share ...

The Tories’ main criticism of hung parliaments and coalition governments during the recent election was that the need for compromise makes them timid. Yet the emergency Budget presented by the Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, this week is as bold as any in living memory. Even those expecting an austerity Budget were taken aback by how far he went. The Right was delighted; the Left dismayed ...

Lord Saville’s comprehensive report into the events in Londonderry on 30 January 1972 has come 38 years too late. Had the Bloody Sunday massacre of 13 innocent civil-rights demonstrators by members of the Parachute Regiment been properly investigated immediately afterwards, decades of strife could have been averted. Bloody Sunday became by far the IRA’s best recruiting officer – not just the day itself, ...

Preparations for Pope Benedict XVI’s state visit to Britain in September have evidently not been going as smoothly as they might. A lack of information and evidence of uncertainty about the itinerary, even 12 weeks before it starts, have fuelled speculation that the organisers risk the problems overwhelming them. Mgr Andrew Summersgill, visit coordinator on behalf of the Bishops’ Conferences of England ...