The part of the bill that must be paid by the Roman Catholic church is now being put at as much as £14million, twice the earlier estimate, which could lead to events being scaled down or even cancelled.
Meanwhile the new Government has not yet appointed a minister to co-ordinate the trip – the first ever papal state visit to the country – while a new team of civil servants had to be assembled following the outrage over a leaked memo suggesting that the Pope launch a range of condoms or open an abortion clinic....