Protest the Pope March, London.

Up to 10,000 people marched through London to protest the state visit of the Pope. Police were taken by surprise at the numbers attending, with one officer saying they were only expecting a couple of thousand protestors. A myriad placards and banners were held aloft, attacking the Pope on issues including his position on contraception, gay marriage, homosexuality and concealing abuse scandals within the Catholic Church, with allegations that Pope Benedict XVI may have had a hand in covering up some cases himself.

The march concluded outside Downing Street where protestors were addressed by speakers including march organiser and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, the human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, author of The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins and abuse victim Sue Cox.