Pope Benedict 16th is to visit Britain. The Vatican is expected to make an announcement later today, according to media reports. It will be the first papal visit to the UK since predecessor, the Polish-born Pope John Paul II, on May 28, 1982.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown invited the incumbent Pope when on a private visit to the Vatican in February. The visit, which would be akin to a state visit would happen in autumn 2010. It is unclear whether a visit to Northern Ireland would be included for fear of sparking sectarian tensions.

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