Papal Visit                                                                16 September 2010

On 5 February 2010, the Scottish Catholic Media Office announced that Pope Benedict XVI had confirmed that he would visit Scotland in mid-September 2010.
Parishioners were invited to apply for tickets for Mass celebrated by the Pope in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow on 16 September 2010. Ninety-nine pilgrims from Saint Peter's gathered at Ardrossan South Beach station on the morning of 16 September. They travelled to Carnonald Station in Glasgow from where they had a forty minute walk to Bellahouston Park. The weather was excellent for September with sun, comfortable temperatures, no rain and a little wind. As they waited for the Pope to arrive, pilgrims ate the food they brought and enjoyed the entertainment that included songs from Susan Boyle and Michelle McManus. There was a very pleasant and relaxed atmosphere as pilgrims enjoyed each other's company.

Pope Benedict toured the Park in his PopeMobile before celebrating Mass with a congregation estimated at seventy thousand. As darkness started to fall, the Saint Peter's Group walked back to Cardonald Station for a train to Ardrossan. After around twelve hours away from home, they were tired but happy at the end of a most enjoyable, fulfilling and uplifting day.