The End of the Journey

The Telegraph featured a detailed relay of the important events of each day of the Pope's visit. Here are some that caught my attention today during the Liturgy and at the departure ceremony. Let's hope that bishops take special note of 12.19, 12.04, and 11.51.

18.41 Damian Thompson writes: "Such a gracious and enthusiastic message from David Cameron at the airport. The PM told the Pope that he made the whole nation sit up and think. Which was precisely Benedict's intention."

He adds: "Four days that changed Britain? Who knows. But these were four days that changed forever our perceptions of Pope Benedict XVI – and have immeasurably raised the spirits of Britain's Catholics."

12.19 Damian Thompson writes: "The Angelus and the final blessing in Latin – the Church in England and Wales is left in no doubt that the Pope wishes Latin to be integral to its worship from now on."

12.04 Damian Thompson writes: "The Pope asks that those who receive Holy Communion from him do so kneeling and on the tongue. That practice is regarded as antiquated by the vast majority of bishops and priests in England and Wales. Clearly the Holy Father is challenging them to reintroduce it, for in his opinion it is not antiquated but more in keeping with the humbling experience of encountering God in the Eucharist."

11.51 Damian Thompson writes: "Note that the Pope, like all priests, is reading aloud the words of the Mass, not reciting them from memory. The Church insists that the Mass is read, to preserve the text from corruption."

10.59 The Telegraph's Martin Beckford tells us: "It's worth mentioning that the rain stopped pretty much the minute that the Pope arrived in Cofton Park. There is a huge crowd considering they had to get up in middle of night to get coaches here, in grim weather, having paid £25. Stewards have to be there from midnight last night until 7pm tonight. They were searching everyone at the gates and I saw they had confiscated a can of Strongbow. Even the burger vans have closed reverentially during the Mass."

10.06 Telegraph Blogs editor Damian Thompson writes: "A non-Catholic colleague has just emailed me to say that he's fascinated by how well Benedict XVI relates to the British public. As he puts it, there's something attractive about the Pope's quiet but resolute views in an era of smooth populism and PR. Even if one disagrees with his views, his conviction is attractive."