Birmingham Pope visit: Pope bids farewell to the city
The Pope today thanked the British people for the "warmth of your welcome" as his historic four-day state visit to the UK came to an end.
Pope Benedict XVI has used the visit to apologise for the child sex scandal, meeting with abuse victims and acknowledging how the affair "seriously undermines the moral credibility" of the Church.
In forthright comments, he has attacked what he sees as "aggressive secularism" and the "increasing marginalisation" of religion in society, and railed against the limitations of celebrity, secularism and science.
The Pontiff has attracted huge crowds, addressing more than 50,000 people in Cofton Park in Birmingham today and 80,000 in London's Hyde Park yesterday, and the trip has been seen by most Catholics as a great success.
Speaking just before leaving the country he said: "Thank you for the warmth of your welcome and for the hospitality that I have enjoyed.
"During my time with you, I have been able to meet representatives of the many communities, cultures, languages and religions that make up British society.
"The very diversity of modern Britain is a challenge to its Government and people, but it also represents a great opportunity to further intercultural and inter-religious dialogue for the enrichment of the entire community."
Prime Minister David Cameron described the state visit as "incredibly moving" and thanked the Pope for challenging Britain to "sit up and think".
Mr Cameron drew parallels between the Pope's teachings and his own vision of a "Big Society".
But he felt moved to defend the country against accusations of religious ridiculing.
He said people of all faiths or no faith could consider questions of how to live and emphasised that the British people are "deeply, but quietly, compassionate".
He said: "Your Holiness, on this truly historic first state visit to Britain you have spoken to a nation of six million Catholics but you have been heard by a nation of more than 60 million citizens and by many millions more all around the world."
He said: "You have really challenged the whole country to sit up and think, and that can only be a good thing.
"Because I believe we can all share in your message of working for the common good and that we all have a social obligation to each other, to our families and our communities."
And he added: "When you think of our country, think of it as one that not only cherishes faith, but one that is deeply, but quietly, compassionate.
"I see that compassion in the incredible response to the floods in Pakistan.
