Pushkin, a 10-year-old half Persian cross met Pope Benedict XVI on 19 September when the pontiff visited the church founded by Cardinal John Henry Newman, right here in Birmingham England.

Pushkin, a lovely Persian cross breed

This moggy began howling near the Holy Father during his visit to the Oratory. Pope Benedict is a renowned cat-lover, who is said to have fed strays in Rome, so its no wonder that he stopped to stroke bold Pushkin. Rest assured though that the pontiff did stop to bless some human babies too!

Pushkin has an audience with the pope

Pushkin has added the Pope to his list of other influential friends (including Princess Michael of Kent) and is now becoming a bit of a celebrity who is sent fan mail from other felines all over the world.

Father Anton Gusiel lives in the Birmingham Oratory and is Pushkins keeper. He told the story of what happened:

"As soon as the Pope arrived the most terrible howling could be heard. There was an awesome presence there and Pushkin wanted to acquaint himself with it."

"Once the Pope had prayed, he saw the cat and smiled delightedly and came over and he started to talk to him. He said, "aren’t you pretty, aren’t you pretty? What’s his name? How old is he? Then he stroked him, tickled him under the ears and shook Pushkin's paw. At that point the cardinals all rushed in and started taking photographs."

Father Anton added that Pushkin had received a stream of fan mail since the encounter. "He had a letter from Canada from a priest who also had a cat called Pushkin who sadly died. Then he had a nice card with an embroidered cat on it from a lady, and other mail from some cats who live in a Carmelite convent in Wolverhampton."

He commented on the fan mail saying: "The letter from the convent cat 'Ginger' praised Pushkin for getting past the Pope's security. In the letter he said how he admired the way Pushkin had outwitted the Pope's bodyguards to gain an audience, which had set a precedent for all cats to be received by the pontiff.

Pushkin is also "a good friend" of Princess Michael of Kent, Fr Anton said. They correspond and send Christmas cards to each other. Pushkin has now added the Pope to his Christmas card list."

Pushkin, A little flustered after the ordeal