PRIESTS have given their reaction to the Pope’s visit to Britain in which he met a Southend MP and saw a south Essex dance act perform.

Pope Benedict XVI toured the country during a four-day visit.

Among those who met him was Father Dominic Howarth, 40, who is about to become parish priest at Our Lady of All Saints, in Basildon, following several years as youth chaplain to the diocese, at Walsingham House, on Canvey.

He was involved in organising a group of young people to meet the Pope following a mass in Westminster.

Father Howarth said: “The Pope’s message to the young people was wonderful. They couldn’t stop talking about it.

“It was absolutely delightful to sit and listen to their shared memories of how wondrous, uplifting and moving it was.”

Students from St Thomas More School, in Westcliff, made the journey to London to see the Pope while a dance troupe from St Bernard’s School, also in Westcliff, took part in the celebrations in Hyde Park.

Father Graham Smith, 40, from St George’s Church in Ness Road, Shoebury, said the papal visit had gone well.

He added: “A lot of people in the parish said he should not come, but I think the myth of the Pope as God’s rottweiller has been dispelled. He was very warm with everyone he met.”

Southend West MP David Amess met the Pope when he arrived in Scotland.