Peter Tatchell leads anti-Pope protests

“The way the sex abuse scandal has been handled has shown the entire Church to be shockingly lacking in any sort of moral leadership.

“It has sought to protect its own, to preserve the institution rather than the very children it is there to look after,” he said.

Ligia Barocot was concerned about the Pope’s opposition to condoms.

“I’m not against religion at all. I think it is fine that he is here. It is just that some of the things that he preaches just aren’t right for the 21st Century,” she said.

Saturday’s Pope-Nope march, which starts in Hyde Park at lunchtime will be followed by a rally outside Downing Street where speakers will include Mr Tatchell and the scientist and atheist Richard Dawkins.

There will also be speakers from the Survivor’s Network of those Abused by Priests, Women Against Fundamentalism and the British Humanist Association.