HUNDREDS of excited York children will watch Pope Benedict XVI live on a big screen at Knavesmire on Friday.

Every Catholic school in the city hopes to take all their pupils to York Racecourse to watch the Pope as he gives an assembly during his UK visit next week. He will celebrate Catholic education by addressing 3,000 pupils in London in a Big Assembly during his visit to St Mary’s University College on Friday, and the event will be televised and shown at Knavesmire.

Bill Scriven, head teacher of All Saints’ RC secondary school, said: “The excitement is mounting for the papal visit and The Big Assembly. We will be able to take part in the prayers and celebrations via a live feed to the large screen at the racecourse, and we are indebted to everyone who has made this exciting event possible.”

Several schools in the city, including All Saints’, are sending representatives to meet the Pope at special events.

The Very Rev Canon Michael Ryan, of St Wilfrid’s Church, said: “They are looking forward to it very much. In fact, I was in St Wilfrid’s Primary School yesterday and the children are more excited than the adults.

“For the young generation, it is the first papal visit they will have witnessed so it’s very special.

“I think it’s fitting for the children to gather at Knavesmire, which is a great arena, where thousands of people went to meet Pope John Paul II in 1982.”

The Pope will visit the UK from Thursday until Sunday.