Enjoyed seeing the Pope but did it really cost us £7m ?

aheaton46

mumps wrote: »

Thankskfor the information, as a follow on how much, if anything, does security for the Archbishop of Canterbury cost? Actually I know it must cost something as I met him at a local event and there was alot of policing, roads closed, parking suspended.

No idea, to be honest. I suspect things like that come from the local police budget just like any other event (eg football matches - clubs pay for policing inside the ground, the local police for the costs outside the ground).

I'm not aware that the ABofC has any permanent security costs paid for by the taxpayer.

sirmarcus

Anyone for another parishioner;) complaining or debating ?

bargainbetty

Andy_L wrote: »

He's a head of state so we have to pick up (some of) the costs of a state visit.

In addition he's an extremly important chap to the world wide Catholic community (about 17% of the world according to Wiki). Had we not provided the full "pomp & circumstance" tour how would that have affected our international relations with those people, especially amongy the Catholic-heavy Central/South American emerging economies we're trying to cosy-up to?

He is NOT a head of state. He is the head of a religious order, one that is extremely wealthy.

He charged people to hear him preach. If you make money from a visit it is a tour, not a formal or state visit.

The Dalai Lama did not charge for his lectures and sermons, nor was he afforded a state visit. He is the head of a religious order too, and one that it a lot more palatable to many people.

As for your comment about cosying up to South American emerging economies by being nice to the pope, don't be bloody ridiculous. We've been a protestant nation since 1535 (apart from a few years under Mary Tudor) and it's never stopped us so far.

dreavi

Good Lord is this really worth stressing over, governments are always spending money on stuff that the majority doesnt approve of. They cant win. So it cost seven million, at least a bunch of people got to have a nice day out, thats a better return on investment than most other stuff they pay for.

I imagine it cost more than 7 million to insert that SAS team into Libya and that went wrong. No return on that investment. I'm an athiest but there are better uses of time than impotently raging on a forum over things I dont agree with

ady_j

bargainbetty wrote: »

He is NOT a head of state. He is the head of a religious order, one that is extremely wealthy

People shouldn't SHOUT about the facts until they know the facts.

Here, let me help with your education:

The Holy See is the universal government of the Catholic Church and operates from the Vatican City State, a sovereign, independent territory of 0.44 square kilometers (0.17 square miles). The Pope is the ruler of both the Vatican City State and the Holy See.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3819.htm

No, my pleasure, no thanks required:p