Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to Britain is in disarray as the costs spiral and doubts increase over the schedule.

The part of the bill that must be paid by the Roman Catholic church is now being put at as much as £14million, twice the earlier estimate, which could lead to events being scaled down or even cancelled.

Preparations have also been affected by the ill-health of Benedict’s ambassador to Britain, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, who suffered a stroke last month.

The landmark visit of the Pope to Britain, scheduled to take place between September 16th and 19th this year, was brokered by Gordon Brown when he was Prime Minister. Insiders suggest he made the invitation in order to shore up Labour’s vote among the faithful in Scotland.

It was agreed that the church hierarchies in England and Wales, and Scotland, would pay for the “pastoral” elements such as an open-air Mass in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, where the previous pontiff, John Paul II, was greeted by 300,000 Catholics in 1982.

Meanwhile the British Government would spent £15m on the state events such as the pope’s reception by the Queen at Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh even before policing costs are added.

But it is believed that no firm agreement has been worked out for the amounts each party must pay, with the issue complicated by the involvement of local councils around the country at a time when budgets are being cut.

• Full story at the Daily Telegraph.

• Filed under Papal Visit, Roman Catholic Church, Scottish Christian News Monitor.