Organisers of the papal visit have announced a new venue for John Henry Newman’s beatification, almost halving the number of people able to attend.
A Vatican team, led by Dr Alberto Gasbarri, visited the new site on Monday, choosing a Birmingham park over Coventry Airport, which had been originally earmarked for the ceremony.
Cofton Park – the venue in Birmingham ultimately chosen for the main event of the papal visit in September – can hold around 80,000 people, according to an early estimate by organisers. Coventry Airport would have been able to accommodate approximately 150,000 faithful.
