On a swelteringly-hot day in June 1982, Pope John Paul II visited Glasgow - and it wasn't a trip the late pontiff would forget in a hurry.
Pope John Paul II was the first reigning Pope to visit the UK when he landed at Gatwick Airport on May 28, 1982 - 40 years ago this week.
During his time here, he stopped off at nine cities across the country and delivered 16 addresses. Among the events were a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, a meeting with the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and five large open air Masses in London, Cardiff, Manchester, Coventry, and most importantly - Glasgow.
An estimated 300,000 people flocked to Bellahouston Park, the biggest crowd that has ever gathered in Scotland. On a sweltering day on June 1, applause for the Pope lasted seven minutes as he attempted to address the congregation.
READ MORE - 11 times celebrities were spotted going about their business in Glasgow
Security for the event was high, with an attempt on his life having taken place the previous year. 7,000 stewards and 6,000 police officers were on hand at Bellahouston to ensure safety.
During the mass, John Paul II was offered several gifts including a firkin of whisky, a Scotland football shirt, and a football. The Pope told crowds: “We find it harder to follow Christ today than appears to have been the case before.
“As believers, we are constantly exposed to pressures by modern society which would compel us to conform to the standards of this secular age, substitute new properties, restrict our aspirations at risk of compromising our Christian conscience.
He continued: “Beloved people of Scotland, in conclusion, I wish you and all who are dear to you, wherever they may be, the abundance of God’s blessings, so that your families may prosper and peace and harmony may reign in your homes.”
While it may have been one of the largest attended events in Scottish history, it very nearly didn’t happen at all. The itinerary for the visit was drafted 42 times before the Vatican finally approved it, with the final plans costing around £7 million.
Sign up to our Glasgow Live nostalgia newsletters for more local history and heritage content straight to your inbox
Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands, and the following war between Britain and Argentina, almost put the brakes on the trip. It was decided that the pontiff would not meet then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and the visit went ahead without issue.
Before making his way to Glasgow, Pope John Paul II landed at RAF Turnhouse and headed to Murrayfield Stadium to meet with 45,000 young people and leaders of Protestant churches. He topped off the day with a visit to Edinburgh’s Catholic cathedral.
En route to Glasgow, Pope John Paul II stopped off at St Joseph’s Hospital in Rosewell to visit patients, before addressing educators at St Andrew’s College in Glasgow.
After the outdoor Mass at Bellahouston, he moved on to Wales, where he was awarded the Freedom of Cardiff.
It was almost 30 years later before a Pope would return to Scotland, when Pope Benedict XVI came on a state visit. In 2010, he met the Queen for the first time at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.
The following day, he was greeted by the Archbishop of Glasgow for a ticketed Mass in Bellahouston Park. With Susan Boyle and Michelle McManus opening the event with performances, the event saw much less attendance with 65,000 people in the crowd.
