Pope Benedict XVI is to arrive in Edinburgh on Thursday morning for the first ever official Papal visit to Great Britain.
The Pope's packed schedule will see him meet thousands of followers and take in the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Birmingham before returning to Rome on Sunday. Here's a breakdown of his itinerary:
Thursday 16 September
Pope Benedict XVI is due to depart from Rome's Ciampino Airport at 8.10am and his plane is expected to touchdown at 10.30am at Edinburgh International Airport, where a greeting ceremony will take place.
His first offical engagement will be a state welcome and an audience with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Palace of Holyrood House. First Minister Alex Salmond and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg are also expected to attend. The Pope will then address a state reception to be held in the palace grounds at 11.40am before he travels in his Popemobile through the city en route to a private lunch with Cardinal O'Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, at Archbishop's House.
Some 100,000 people are expected to travel to Edinburgh to try and catch a glimpse of The Holy Father and take part in the inaugural St Ninian's Day Parade on Princes Street, which marks the feast day of Scotland's first saint.
At 3.45pm, The Pope will travel from the capital to Glasgow, where he will preside over a Celebration of Mass in Bellahouston Park in front of 85,000 folowers. The official motorcade will set off for Glasgow International Airport at 7.30pm for the Pope's flight to London Heathrow.
Friday 17 September
On Friday morning, the Pope will attend a Private Celebration of Mass at the Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature in Wimbledon before travelling to St. Mary's University College in Twickenham where he will hold prayers with Representatives of Religious Congregations in St Mary's Chapel. Schoolchildren and students will have a chance to meet Pope Benedict in the college's sports arena before he meets with religious leaders in Walpole House.
The Pope will then return by motorcade to the Apostolic Nunciature for a private lunch before moving on to Lambeth Palace to make a Fraternal Visit to the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams. Both the Archbishop and the Pope will give speeches before travelling to Westminster Abbey for a Celebration of Evening Prayer.
Prime Minister David Cameron will host a State Banquet in the Pope's honour at Lancaster House in the evening.
Saturday 18 September
Saturday morning will see Pope Benedict travel to Archbishop's House in Westminster, where he is due to receive courtesy calls from the Prime Minster, Deputy Prime Minister and Harriet Harman, acting leader of the opposition.
The Pope will then make his way to the Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in Westminster, where 2500 young people will be gathered in the Piazza to welcome him. He is then due to give a Homily before blessing the cathedral's mosaic of St. David and greeting the people of Wales.
The Holy Father's motorcade will return him to the Apostolic Nunciature for lunch before his evening visit to St Peter's Residence for Older People in Vauxhall. He will then travel on to London's Hyde Park for a Prayer Vigil on the Eve of the Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman before returning to the Apostolic Nunciature.
Sunday 19 September
The Pope's day begins officially at 8am with him bidding farewell to the Apostolic Nunciature before flying by helicopter to Birmingham Airport. He will then make his way to the city's Cofton Park in Rednal where he will address the Celebration of Mass for the Beatification of the Venerable Cardinal John Henry Newman; bringing the revered 19th Century clergyman one step closer to sainthood.
Pope Benedict will then take to the air again for the short trip to St Mary's College, Oscott, where he's due to have lunch with the Bishops of England, Scotland and Wales as well as the Papal Entourage in the Refectory of St Mary’s College. Cardinal O'Brien, Archbishop Vincent Nichols and The Holy Father are expected to give speeches and pose for photographs before the official motorcade returns to Birmingham Airport for the State Farewell Ceremony at 5.30pm.
The Pope will then fly back to Ciampino Airport, where he is expected to arrive at 9.45pm.
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