SPECULATION is growing that Pope Benedict XVI will pay a visit to St Andrews next year as part of his state visit to Britain. Scottish secretary Jim Murphy, following a recent trip to the Vatican, said it was now "probable" that the pontiff would come to Scotland.
And with celebrations to mark the 600th anniversary of St Andrews University beginning next year, it is believed the Pope could find time in his schedule to make a brief visit to the town.
The Vatican played a prominent role in the founding of the university and that link could make a trip to St Andrews a priority during his short stay in Scotland.
In 1413, six papal bulls from Pope Benedict XIII were brought to the town to authorise the new university.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown invited the Pope to visit the UK when they met at the Vatican in February. The four-day visit is now scheduled for next September.
It is thought the Pope will stay as a guest of honour of the Queen at Holyrood while in Scotland, where he is expected to spend one day.
The Pope's entire British visit is being organised by Jim Murphy who travelled to Rome last month with Cardinal Keith O'Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland.
The Scots Secretary said: "We talked about international development, climate change and the proposed Papal visit to Britain including Scotland.
''Afterwards, I met the Vatican's depute Prime Minister Archbishop Filoni. Cardinal O'Brien and I then joined senior officials from the Vatican for a working lunch to discuss the Papal visit.
"It is, of course, for the Vatican to confirm, but after the discussions the prospects of the Pope visiting Scotland next year have gone from possible to probable. It is something I know that people throughout Britain, including Scots of all faiths, will welcome."
A spokesperson for St Andrews University confirmed Pope Benedict would be warmly welcomed if a visit was arranged.
She added: "St Andrews would be delighted were the Pope to come to the university, all the more if — as a distinguished scholar and world leader — he were able to address an audience not only of academics but representatives of civil society."
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SIC: FT