Some heartening news from across the pond:

As Pope Benedict XVI begins his papal visit to the UK, Catholic congregations are reporting a rise in numbers in the Isle of Man.

The increase is believed to coincide with both his visit and the number of different nationalities settling on the island.

The Pope flew into Edinburgh where he is beginning his four-day tour.

Assistant priest Father Brian Dougherty, of St Mary’s in Douglas, said: “We have good congregations.”

He added: “We have the Polish community, we have the Filipino community, all different nationalities plus an increase in our own population on the island, we have very good congregations here all over the weekend.”

“We do have some young people going [to see The Pope] and they are going over on Thursday or Friday.”

There’s more here.