Pope Benedict XVI could meet with people who were abused by Roman Catholic priests when he visits Britain later this month, it was suggested yesterday.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, pointed out that the Pope had met victims of clerical sex abuse during recent visits to other countries.

But he stressed this was always done confidentially and in private and that was the “right and proper” way to approach such a sensitive issue.

It has been reported that Vatican officials are concerned the Pope’s visit to England and Scotland could be overshadowed by demonstrations.

Cardinal Nichols appeared to play down such suggest-ions, saying he would not put the “real tragedy” of child abuse “in the category of something that will overshad-ow everything else about this visit”.

And responding to a poll that more than three quarters of Britons think the taxpayer should not contribute to the cost of the four-day visit, the Cardinal said it would be a “very sad day” when a country said it could not afford it.