The papal visit revealed the Pope's humanity

Pope Benedict seems to have left the UK with a very positive view of our country and its people - even of our weather, although it was touch and go for a while on Sunday morning.

Those who have followed the visit will have formed a no less positive view of Pope Benedict. The huge number of people who joined the Pope in worship will not easily forget the warmth of his humanity.

I hope that even people who disagree with various aspects of Catholic teaching or who even reject Christianity or faith altogether will respect and admire the way Pope Benedict addressed in a direct and engaging way the big issues facing our own country and the modern world.

He expressed his own admiration for the traditions of tolerance that underlie our democracy and particularly noted the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

The Pope didn’t ignore the difficult issue of sex abuse or the outstanding obstacles to Christian unity.

Mutual respect and affection was palpable between the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury especially during Evening Prayer in Westminster Abbey.

Obviously it will take a long time to evaluate the full significance of this short visit, but some of the particular groups he met - children and young people, the elderly, professional educators, politicians - and the huge number of people who joined the Pope in worship will not easily forget the warmth of his humanity.

Christians will be grateful for his quiet and confident insistence on the grace and love of Christ and the relevance of their faith in a sometimes hostile environment.