Advice for Catholic pilgrims at Westminster & Hyde Park about facing the media today!

A few days ago, Fiona O'Reilly from Catholic Voices (http://www.catholicvoices.org.uk/home), offered some excellent, top advice for me as a pilgrim regarding the media, which I really want to share with you! This was originally a post I created on the 16th September, but I've tweaked it so that it's relevant to today.

There is going to be over 1000 media journalists and media camera crew, out there today - from all over the world! So you might encounter a journalist wanting your take on things.

What's different about today than Bellahouston park in Glasgow, is that there will be protesters a-plenty. There were fewer than 20 protesters there, where as today, there will be hundreds if not thousands of them. I expect that the media would really love to see any movement between protesters and pilgrims. So here's a few tips about facing the media at Westminster and Hyde Park today.

• Be yourself! The media have warmed to the fact that us Catholic pilgrims really are a nice peaceful bunch. So now that they know us - they may very well give the protesters the level of coverage that has been afforded them in the run-up to the visit, just for a little change. Although they'll want to capture the views, the thoughts and the feelings of mainstream ordinary Catholics like you and I, today could be the day when they'll also want to capture the controversial aspects of the visit brought to life through the protests. So if you are interviewed, be true to yourself, and don't let any form of intimidating that the protesters may give you during any interviews get to you, frustrate, or anger you. I invite you to watch some of my videos below to see the joy of the pilgrims who have journeyed before you for inspiration.

• Respect others' opinions! We may not agree with each other on things, but we must respect each other as JC taught us to. 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
• Joyful noise! If you are happy, then show it! This might be a once in a lifetime chance to show your joy of being a Catholic publicly! Smiles all around would just look so totally cool!
• Don't be afraid! ... to show your devotion through items of clothing, or jewellry, or banners that give the impression you are Catholic :) I'll have my Benedict XVI CWA hoodie on, rosary bracelet, St. James' shell earings and pilgrim wooden cross necklace showing proudly! And thousands upon thousands of us today will be waving the Vatican flag.
• Don't comment if...  you feel uncomfortable about discussing something they've brought up. You should never feel pressurised into talking about anything you don't want to talk about. You could always refer them over to Catholic Voices to talk about that.

So that's some advice for my fellow pilgrims at Westminster and Hyde Park today on media interviews! Enjoy yourselves... you are about to feel the vivacity and joy of thousands and thousands of people like yourself! ^_^ Pope Benedict XVI is here in the UK!!! Live it up!