Benedict is going on the road. You’ll be able to see him in Poland from May 25th – 28th, where he’s taking in Czestochowa, Wadowice, Krakow, and Auschwitz. You aren't going to see him in Britain though. The reports that came out in the Daily Mirror a few weeks ago have been contradicted by the Vatican. The Mirror said he was going to come in September 2007, which would have been the 25th anniversary of the last papal visit to the British Isles. The Vatican made all sorts of speedy denials. Jean Paul II’s visit in 1982 was the first time a pope had crossed la Manche since 1531, according to this guy.

There is a very good reason for this. The British don’t like the pope. He ain’t welcome, whatever the Archbishop of Westminster might claim. In the Renaissance, the Vatican fulfilled the role that the EU fulfils for the British now. It meant being ruled by dagos. A bit like me here with Christy, but with wider implications. Last year, the Vatican scheduled Jean Paul’s funeral on the day of Prince Charles’ wedding. A diplomatic farce ensued, and Charles’ eventually surrendering the day to the dead pope was seen by some as a compromise of Britain’s constitution and very spirit.

Being German won’t help relations much when Ratzi pops his clogs.