The Pope will visit Britain

LIKE MOST of us I see 1978 move into the past with mixed feelings of relief and regret. It has been a remarkable year — the year of the Three Popes: for Britain is was the year of the election that never was: for world historians looking back undoubtedly the outstanding event will be China's etnergence into the world as a new and engaged power willing to carry on a dialogue with the West. But let the dead bury their dead — what lies ahead in 1979!
As I peer into my crystal ball I see it as a year of intense political activity here at home. As soon as the New Year breaks upon us the parties will start gearing up for the conflict which must come, not as is generally thought by October, but by November, since a Parliament lasts five years from when 4 first assembkd, in this case November 1974. I predict that Parliament will not run its full course and we will be faced with an election in the Spring sometime between the end of March and the beginning of June.
The Labour Government is now in an overall minority position dependent on the Nationalist and Ulster Unionists for its continuance. After the referenda in Scotland and Wales in early March there will no longer be any reason for the Nationalists to keep the government in being and they will seek an opportunity to combine with the Tories to turn it out. By this time the Ulster Un
ionists will have secured their extra seats in Northern Ireland despite all the huffing and puffing of Mr Gerry Fitt and the Labour Catholics and the Left but they will need a guillotine to do so which will cause a major parliamentary row. They will show their gratitude by turning on the govern ent and out it will go, or Mr Callaghan may decide to go voluntarily and not wait until he is pushed. He will not care much provided he has seen the new electoral register come into force by which he sets much store.
The accepted wisdom is that thanks to better organisation the Conservative Party picks up a bonus of anything up to 5 per cent on postal votes on an old register.
1979 will also be remarkable for the emergence of Britain's first woman Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher. The country will respond to her enthusiastically and the new government will start on its stormy course with great goodwill. The composition of the new cabinet will cause great surprise: Mr Francis Pym will become Foreign Secretary.
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1979 will also be a major year for Church affairs. It will above all be the year of Pope John Paul II who will be seen as a major force both in world diplomacy
and world ecumenism. A major series of papal travels will start with the Pope returning to his native Poland amidst extraordinary scenes of enthusiasm. The pope's visit will 'have repurcussions throughout the iron curtain countries. His Holiness will also visit South America and the Middle East.
In the Middle East he will launch a new peace offensive with constructive and helpful results. Arrangements will be made for the Pope to visit Britain although I am not certain that the actual visit will occur in 1979: the following year appears more likely. There will be a great shake up in the Vatican as a whole new series of appointments are made. A number of new cardinals will be created. The coveted red hat will descend on a number of sees including that of Armagh!
In the Vatican itself Monsignor Casaroli will also receive the red biretta and will succeed Cardinal Villot as Papal Secretary of State. Archbishop Worlock's great abilities will be recognised by a high Vatican appointment.
In world affairs developments in China will rivet all eyes. Readers will recall that on my return from Peking in the Summer I predicted that the regime would begin to change and what has started in 1978 will continue in 1979. There will be no return to the Gang of Four and the progress to greater "liberalism" within Chinese Marxism will continue. The regularisation of relations between China and other countries will continue to gather pace following the setting up of diplomatic contacts between China and the United States and I would expect to see a VaticanChina raprochement.
The Royal Family in Britain as always will be in the news with marriages and births prominent. The question of the marriage of members of the Royal Family and Catholics will be raised again in a new-old form.
* * * A very happy new year to all readers of this column.