Murphy lobbies over Pope's visit

The last papal visit was in May 1982

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has said he hopes that the Pope will make a visit to Scotland next year

Mr Murphy will travel to Rome next week for talks with the Vatican about a possible visit to the UK next year by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Pope is expected to visit the UK in 2010 but nothing has been formally announced.

Mr Murphy is expected to push strongly for Scotland to be included in the Pope's UK visit.

As well as having talks with Vatican officials while he is in Rome on Wednesday, Mr Murphy is also expected to meet the Pope during his General Audience and with Cardinal Keith O'Brien.

Mr Murphy said: "It would be a fantastic occasion if the Pope were to visit Britain. The prime minister wants us to work closely with the Vatican and assist in whatever way we can.

"It is too early to say if the Pope will be coming to Scotland next year but it certainly won't be for a lack of trying on my part.

"A visit from the Pope is something which would be welcomed by all faiths."

It would be the first papal visit to Britain since 1982, when Pope John Paul II's six-day tour drew huge crowds.

A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said: "We warmly welcome the prospect of Pope Benedict XVI visiting Scotland next year.

"The papal events in 1982 were an enormous success - a visit would be a wonderful occasion for the whole of Scotland, and Cardinal O'Brien's suggestion last month of an address to the Scottish Parliament is an excellent idea."