MP leads delegation to meet Pope Benedict XVI

14th February 2006

David Amess, Member of Parliament for Southend West, will be leading a delegation of Members of Parliament to meet Pope Benedict XVI on the morning of Wednesday 22nd February.  Mr Amess and the other MPs will be presenting the Pope with an illuminated address which reads as follows :

‘Your Holiness,
We the undersigned Parliamentarians, applaud your stand on pro-life and family issues. We, as representatives in the United Kingdom Parliament, will do all we can to protect the sanctity of life and the integrity of the family. We are also heartened and congratulate you on your first Papal Encyclical where you highlight the meaning of love. These are challenging times for us all. Society’s values are changing rapidly. We wish you well with your endeavours to promote the sanctity of life and family values.’

Mr Amess said, ‘I think it is very important that Members of the British Parliament meet the Pope at an early stage of his papacy in order to encourage him and show support in the challenges which he has been presented with’.