Internal Foreign Office memo had suggested the Pope could launch Benedict-brand condoms or bless gay marriages during his UK visit

UK says sorry for 'Pope brand condom' memo

Internal Foreign Office memo had suggested the Pope could launch Benedict-brand condoms or bless gay marriages during his UK visit

An internal Foreign Office memo about this September's papal visit to Britain which started as a Friday afternoon joke, has resulted in a formal government apology to the Vatican.

JUST LIKE US...The Pope slumped forward onto his chest as he fell asleep for a few seconds during mass yesterday. PIC/AP

The memorandum, apparently written following a brainstorming session by a group of junior civil servants planning events for the four-day visit by Pope Benedict XVI, suggested among other ideas that he might like to start a helpline for abused children, sack 'dodgy' bishops, open an abortion ward, launch his own brand of condoms, preside at a civil partnership, perform forward rolls with children, apologise for the Spanish Armada and sing a song with the Queen.

It was circulated across Whitehall, including Downing Street with a covering note suggesting it should not be shown externally and adding, unnecessarily perhaps, that its ideas were far-fetched.

Leaked!

The joke fell very flat indeed after the memo was leaked to media, with David Miliband, the foreign secretary, said to be appalled, a grovelling apology from his department and a formal expression of regret offered to the Vatican by the British ambassador Francis Campbell.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said: "This is clearly a foolish document that does not in any way reflect UK government or Foreign Office policy or views. Many of the ideas... are clearly ill-judged, naive and disrespectful." As soon as senior officials became aware of the document it was withdrawn from circulation. The civil servant responsible, said to be in his 20s, appears to have written the document on a Friday in early March, some weeks before the latest waves of child abuse accusations engulfed the Catholic Church.

Disrepective slurs

The ludicrous nature of the suggestions did not prevent some within the Catholic Church reacting to what they claimed was a disrespectful slur, demanding apologies.

Bishop Malcolm McMahon of Nottingham said that the memorandum was appalling, before somewhat moderating his views overnight and sayingu00a0 that he hoped the memo had been lighthearted, adding: "That in itself can be dangerous if these memos move around departments. They tend to gain momentum."

Visit cancelled?

The Pope could cancel his planned visit to Britain because of a "hugely offensive" Foreign Office memo. One highly-placed source in the Vatican said, "This could have very severe repercussions and is embarrassing for the British government -- one has to question whether the action taken is enough. It is disgusting... It's even possible the trip could be cancelled as this matter is hugely offensive."

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