Dioceses in England and Wales have reported thousands of unfilled places for a vigil in London's Hyde Park on Saturday and a beatification Mass in Birmingham on Sunday for 19th Century cardinal John Henry Newman.

BBC: Papal visit: Pope Benedict XVI focuses on education

It has been reported Mr Brown suggested a visit could coincide with the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman - a famous British convert to Catholicism, who died in 1890 - expected within the next two years.

BBC: Pope is 'considering' visit to UK

This is brave of Mantel, even bravely peculiar, given the reputation of the actual Thomas Cromwell, who acted as a brutal fixer for both Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII.

NEWYORKER: Invitation to a Beheading

The university, which has 3, 000 students, was established in 1968 and is named after its patron, Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman, who was beatified during the Pope's visit to Birmingham in 2010.

BBC: Newman University

Only Thomas More and his political rival, Thomas Cromwell, were actually executed by Henry VIII, and Cardinal Wolsey, who died of fright and dysentery a year after his ignominious disgrace, was the earliest victim.

ECONOMIST: Tudor history

The Archbishop of York's Palace, next to Southwell Minster, is the former home of Tudor statesman Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who served under Henry VIII.

BBC: Archbishop's Palace in Southwell to open to public

Cardinal Wolsey, who was Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor, became hugely powerful under King Henry VIII.

BBC: Cardinal Wolsey 'could be found in Leicester'