Twickenham was today ready for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, with protesters and well-wishers expected to line the route.

The pontiff arrived on the first papal visit to the UK since 1982 yesterday and met the Queen in Scotland before flying south last night.

He is heading to St Mary’s University College, in Waldegrave Road, this morning to meet with 3,500 children from across the country at the Big Assembly, a celebration of Catholic education.

The assembly is due to start at 10am on St Mary’s running track and will include a ceremony to mark the inauguration of the John Paul II Institute for Sport, a schools’ project brought about by the former Pope’s vision that sport and faith should work hand in hand.

Geraldine Davies, head of the school of education at St Mary’s, said the school and its students were delighted to be involved in the Big Assembly, which she described as a “unique and historicoccasion for all involved in Catholic education”.

About 300 staff and pupils from borough schools are to be part of a welcoming committee before the main event. The pontiff will also pray with representatives of religious congregations and meet religious leaders of various denominations in St Mary’s historic Waldegrave Drawing Room.

Richmond Council has confirmed the pontiff will arrive some time before 10am and leave before 1pm, but exact details of his route have not been released and he will not be in the Pope Mobile.

There are no plans to close Waldegrave Road, but residents have been warned the stretch between Tower Road and Shacklegate Lane may be closed for periods until 3pm and parking between Tower Road and Waldegrave Park will be suspended.

In a joint letter to residents, Councillor Clare Head, Richmond Council cabinet member for traffic, Chief Superintendent Clive Chalk, Richmond Police borough commander, Arthur Naylor, principal at St Mary’s, and Michael Allsop, from Strawberry Hill Residents’ Association, said they hoped for a great day with minimum disruption for residents.

However, the pontiff is not set for an entirely warm welcome as the borough’s lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender forum (LGBT) launched a last-minute campaign called Challenge HomoPopia.

A spokesman said: “We hope the campaign will allow all of those who are unable to attend the various physical demonstrations being organised to add their voices to the challenge and, simultaneously, to make a small donation, leaving a tangible legacy to help the victims of HomoPopia.”

The forum is asking anyone opposed to the visit to text POPE to 81400 – messages cost £1.50, plus standard rates – and 90p of that will go to fund organisations providing support to the victims of discrimination, hate and hostility.

Richmond Coalition against the State Visit announced it planned to protest outside St Mary's which will begin at 9am. Speakers including human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will join protesters, including members of the LGBT forum, for the peaceful protest.

Are you at St Mary's today or lining up to welcome or protest the Pope outside? Send your pictures or thoughts to gholt@london.newsquest.co.uk
See next week’s Richmond and Twickenham Times for an eight-page souvenir pull-out from the Pope’s visit.