Pope adviser calls the UK a 'Third World country'
The Vatican said the cardinal was pulling out of the visit solely on health grounds
The Vatican said the cardinal had not intended "any kind of slight", and was referring to the UK's multicultural society.
It added that he had simply pulled out of the Pope's visit due to illness.
Vatican sources said Cardinal Kasper - who stepped down in July as the head of the department that deals with other Christian denominations - was suffering from gout and had been advised by his doctors not to travel to the UK.
The Pope is spending four days in Scotland and England, starting on Thursday.
'Talking nonsense'
The BBC's correspondent in Rome, David Willey, said the cardinal's reported comments were "a slightly clumsy thing to have done on the eve of the visit".
However, he added that he did not think it would have much effect on the Pope's trip to the UK.
Clifford Langley, from Catholic newspaper The Tablet, said the cardinal was "obviously talking nonsense".
"I don't think he believes Britain is in the grip of secular atheism, and he shouldn't have said so," said Mr Langley.
"They are saying it is ill health [that has forced the cardinal to drop out of the visit], but I wonder if that is the fact. I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassment."
British Airways said the cardinal had been "seriously misinformed" in his claims about the airline.
"It is completely untrue that we discriminate against Christians or members of any faith," it said in a statement.
The Vatican said the cardinal was pulling out of the visit solely on health grounds
One of the Pope's senior advisers has pulled out of the papal visit to Britain, after reportedly saying the UK is a "Third World country" marked by "a new and aggressive atheism".
Cardinal Walter Kasper, 77, made the remarks in a German magazine interview.The Vatican said the cardinal had not intended "any kind of slight", and was referring to the UK's multicultural society.
It added that he had simply pulled out of the Pope's visit due to illness.
End Quote Clifford Langley The TabletThey are saying it is ill health, but I wonder if that is the fact. I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassment”
The German-born cardinal was quoted as saying to the country's Focus magazine that "when you land at Heathrow you think at times you have landed in a Third World country".
He also was reported to have criticised British Airways, saying that when you wear a cross on the airline "you are discriminated against".Vatican sources said Cardinal Kasper - who stepped down in July as the head of the department that deals with other Christian denominations - was suffering from gout and had been advised by his doctors not to travel to the UK.
The Pope is spending four days in Scotland and England, starting on Thursday.
'Talking nonsense'
The BBC's correspondent in Rome, David Willey, said the cardinal's reported comments were "a slightly clumsy thing to have done on the eve of the visit".
However, he added that he did not think it would have much effect on the Pope's trip to the UK.
Clifford Langley, from Catholic newspaper The Tablet, said the cardinal was "obviously talking nonsense".
"I don't think he believes Britain is in the grip of secular atheism, and he shouldn't have said so," said Mr Langley.
"They are saying it is ill health [that has forced the cardinal to drop out of the visit], but I wonder if that is the fact. I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassment."
British Airways said the cardinal had been "seriously misinformed" in his claims about the airline.
"It is completely untrue that we discriminate against Christians or members of any faith," it said in a statement.
Papal Visit
Features
-
Are increasing secularisation and declining church attendances affecting the Scottish Catholic Church?Strength of the Catholic Church
-
Papal visit memorabilia
-
Who would be a priest?
-
Cardinal Newman's 'miracle cure'
From other news sites
-
Telegraph Pope visit: Stephen Fry and Terry Pratchett join critics 6 hrs ago
-
Yahoo! UK and Ireland Pope seeks to ease tensions with historic visit 7 hrs ago
-
Guardian.co.uk The pope's visit: your essential guide 8 hrs ago
-
Mail Online UK Pope to tell British MPs to show more respect for the rights of Christians 13 hrs ago
-
The Scotsman Letter: Papal visit 16 hrs ago
- About these results
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites
