Posted: Apr 14, 2012 10:39 am
turnerj41 wrote:I think Christians have a billion or more people, more people show up to mass at the Vatican than the GAC. I think the overall sentiment is that religous people are gaining ground.
IIRC the sizes of the crowds that attended events on the Pope's 2010 tour of the UK were in generally smaller than the previous papal visit in 1982.
For example:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/16/pope-benedict-thousands-turn-out
The church had predicted up to 100,000 people would line the 3½ miles through central Edinburgh. Early estimates suggested the crowd was nearer 60,000, though the council later claimed there were some 125,000.
At all events, it lacked the intensity and emotion of the visit by John Paul II in 1982. Then the crowds on Princes Street were 10 deep in places.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11333448
The Catholic Church in Scotland had hoped to attract up to 100,000 to the event, but later reduced the capacity after a slow take-up of tickets.
This despite having Susan Boyle as his support act!