To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the forthcoming visit by the Pope to England is to be a state visit; and what will be the expected cost of it to be borne by public funds. [HL1742]

The forthcoming visit of the Pope to the UK will be a papal visit. As a papal visit it will have status equivalent to a state visit.

The costs of the visit have not yet been determined; as with state visits, certain elements will be borne by public funds.