Today marks 40 years since the arrival of Pope John Paul II in Canterbury.

On May 29, 1982, he became the first ever pontiff to visit the city's Cathedral.

With Prince Charles on hand to greet him, our sister paper the Kentish Gazette previewed the Pope's arrival with the front page headline: “Royal welcome for pilgrim of peace”.

Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie and throngs of cheering well-wishers watched his helicopter land.

As many as 25,000 people were said to have lined the city’s streets, including many from the Pope’s native Poland, while millions worldwide watched on television.

A late change of the Popemobile route meant thousands of visitors missed the chance to see the pontiff, but on his walkabout he spent time talking to people in the crowds, accepting flowers as well as kissing and blessing children.

Among them was three-year-old Hannah Tutt, who became the envy of the crowd when the pope planted a kiss on her head.

Speaking to the Gazette in 2005, her mum Viv said: “After she got kissed, all these other people then came up and kissed Hannah to get some of the holiness to rub off, I suppose!”

The Pope entered the Cathedral with Dr Runcie and the pair were met with "thunderous applause", according to the Gazette, which devoted six pages to the visit.

The pontiff met with the Prince of Wales before kneeling in silent prayer with Dr Runcie at the spot where St Thomas-à-Becket was murdered in 1170.

A common declaration was issued by the Pope and Archbishop, thanking God for “the progress that has been made in the work of reconciliation” between Canterbury and Rome.

It was also noted "the two men embraced – an act of friendship between churches sharing a common faith but too often divided by doctrine".

The Pope said: “How happy I am to be able to speak to you today in this great Cathedral.”

During a Celebration of Faith, he told the congregation it was a day “which centuries and generations have awaited”.

Later in the afternoon, after flying back to London, the pontiff received a huge ovation from 80,000 people at a mass at Wembley Stadium, billed as the first of his great “outdoor spectaculars”.

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