Pope John Paul II’s 1982 visit to Scotland was significant for people from Catholic and Protestant traditions. Lasting six days, this historic tour was the first time a reigning pope had visited the United Kingdom. During his time in Edinburgh, the pope addressed 44,000 strong crowd at Murrayfield stadium before making his way to the Mound. In New College’s courtyard, at the foot of the Assembly Hall steps, the pope shook hands with the Right Reverend Professor John McIntyre (the then moderator of the Church of Scotland) – marking the first formal meeting of Catholic and Scottish Presbyterian leaders since the Reformation.
This image of the two religious leaders greeting one another in New College quad encapsulates the mood of ecumenical reconciliation at the time.
