Mary’s off to see the pope

A YOUNG Shetland woman has been chosen to represent the University of Aberdeen during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI later this week.

Twenty year old Mary Rutherford, from South Nesting, will travel to London on Friday to take part in a mass in Westminster Cathedral and an open air prayer vigil in Hyde Park.

Mary, who has just completed her first year in biomedical sciences at the university, is the daughter of Paul and Irene Rutherford, from Gletness.

The student describes herself as a “serious catholic” and said she was “surprised and delighted” when asked by the priest of the university’s chapel if she wanted to travel to London to meet Pope Benedict XVI.

“I think we are meeting the Pope on the Saturday morning at Westminster Cathedral. It really is a privilege to have been chosen to be there.

“I have been to Rome a couple of times, but it is not as though he comes here very often. It is a huge privilege and I am really looking forward to it,” she said.

The Pope’s visit to the UK will be the first for almost 30 years. Benedict XXI will come to Edinburgh and Glasgow on Thursday, moving on to London on Friday and Saturday, before finishing his four day state visit in Birmingham on Sunday.