The President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, said he “wished to express the happiness of the Catholic community in Scotland at the news”.

It will be the first state visit to Scotland of a reigning pope. Whereas the late Pope John Paul II came to the country in 1982 on a pastoral visit organised by the Catholic Church, next year’s visit is at the invitation of the UK Government.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, who is due to meet the Pope in a visit to the Vatican next month, welcomed the visit.

“It would be great for Scots of all faiths if the Pope decided to come to Scotland. He would get a fantastic reception and we would love to welcome him here.”

Thousands of people turned out to greet Pope John Paul II when he celebrated Mass at Murrayfield in Edinburgh and Bellahouston Park in Glasgow.

The Pope is expected to visit Edinburgh, Birmingham and Oxford, although the visit is yet to be confirmed by the Vatican and Downing Street.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who last year invited the Pope to visit the UK, said such a visit would be a “moving and momentous occasion for the whole country”.