The Pope, whose visit to the UK is already facing controversy because of accusations of sexual abuse stirred even more controversy by blaming the history of Nazi Germany, of which he played his own role in, on atheists.

Although Britain has an established Church, as a Nation it is increasingly secular. Despite this taxpayers are being forced to pick up the cost of the Papal visit.

In his opening address to the Queen at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the Pope said, “Even in our own lifetimes we can recall how Britain and her leaders stood against a Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society and denied our common humanity to many, especially the Jews, who were thought unfit to live.

“As we reflect on the sobering lessons of atheist extremism of the 20th century, let us never forget how the exclusion of God, religion and virtue from public life leads ultimately to a truncated vision of man and of society and thus a reductive vision of a person and his destiny.”

Well I am guessing he is forgetting not just his role in Nazi Germany, he is also forgetting about the role of the Catholic Church. Such as the delightful Archbishop Konrad Gröber of Freiburg.

The Papal visit was supposedly to help spread a message of tolerance and inter-faith relations. Well atheists have as much right to be tolerated as any one else. To say the least it is not the best of starts from the former NAZI member, now Pope.

The British Humanist Association were surprisingly polite in their response, given that they, like all of us are paying the visit of His Holiness.

Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive, said, “The notion that it was the atheism of Nazis (who were mostly not atheists in any case) that led to their extremist and hateful views or that somehow fuels intolerance in Britain today is a terrible libel against those who do not believe in god. The notion that it is non-religious people in the UK today who want to force their views on others, coming from a man whose organisation exerts itself internationally to impose its narrow and exclusive form of morality and undermine the human rights of women, children, gay people and many others, is surreal.”