26 Apr 2010

Pope's UK visit still on despite 'condom' memo

6:04 pm on 26 April 2010

The Vatican says the Pope will still visit Britain this year despite the publication there of an embarrassing internal memo by the Foreign Office.

The British government has already apologised to the Vatican for circulating an internal paper by junior civil servants suggesting the Pope could bless a gay marriage or open an abortion clinic.

It also suggested the Pope could launch a range of condoms.

A Foreign Office statement says the government is deeply sorry for the offence it has caused.

The BBC reports that the immediate Vatican reaction seems to be to accept the apology and try to overlook the deeply embarrassing gaffe on the part of the Foreign Office.