The stage is set
for the Pope’s visit
Monday 13th September 2010
The stage was today being set for the Pope’s visit to Birmingham with the transformation of a city park.
A temporary amphitheatre is being created in the grounds of Cofton Park ready for the visit on Sunday.
Organisers today said preparations were running on schedule and confirmed onlookers will get a glimpse of the Popemobile inside the park, as Pope Benedict XVI travels along the lower level of the stage.
Councillor Alan Rudge, of Birmingham City Council, said: “Everything is on time for the visit.“The setting is looking really good and we know the Popemobile can now be used inside Cofton Park.
“It will drive from one side to the other at the base of the amphitheatre setting, as well as along Hagley Road on the way to Birmingham Oratory.
“The setting is a beautiful park with trees crowning the top of the stage. It really will be a beautiful setting for the beatification.
“It will give it that sincerity.”
Rows of grey seats were today being put in place ready for around 70,000 people to arrive, while lighting was also being rigged in place.
Upper left photo, the design for the altar-stage, Other photos shows temporary enclosure for the work area.
Around 1,200 coaches of people are expected to descend on the park for the event, which will see the Pope beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman.
The main stage is already in place, which will effectively become the chapel for the Pope’s Mass.
On either side 300 priests will sit on the same platform.
A total of 1,000 choristers will sit in the grey seats on either side of the main stage, backed by two relay screens for onlookers to see the service more clearly.
In front of the stage there are seats for 1,650 invited pilgrims, some of whom are expected to start arriving from 3am on Sunday
There are 16 public announcement towers, providing lighting and sound, stationed around the park to aid pilgrims arriving by night and 850 wheelchair users can benefit from two platforms, with their own relay screens, while those hard-of-hearing can tune in their aids to hearing aid deaf loop which has been wired up around the entire site.
Mark Wallace, chairman of event organisers WRG, said: “The great thing about Cofton Park, as well as having a connection with Cardinal Newman - it is a natural amphitheatre as you’ll see from the layout of this site.”
