NO UK UNTIL 15 Oct 2010 Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (1225900n) Pope Benedict XVI greets Cardinal Keith O'Brien as Prince Philip looks on State Visit of Pope Benedict XVI, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - 16 Sep 2010 Pope Benedict XVI has been welcomed by the Queen and Prince Philip in Edinburgh after touching down to begin the first papal visit to the UK in 28 years. The official welcome took place at Holyrood Palace ? where the Pontiff gave a speech - before the scheduled parade through the capital and an open-air mass later on in Glasgow. The last papal visit was by John Paul II in 1982 ? this trip has been designated a state visit because the Pope was invited by the Queen and not the Church. However, the tour has stirred up controversy, with many critics ? including atheist Richard Dawkins, human rights activist Peter Tatchell and broadcaster Stephen Fry ? openly questioning the validity of Britain welcoming the Pope as a head of state in the face of issues such as homophobia, contraception, sexism and the covering up of child sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church. One of the Pope?s aides recently pulled out of the trip, describing Britain as a ?Third World country?.