The Pope will visit the UK in September, it has been confirmed — but it is still unclear whether he will come to Oxford.

Buckingham Palace today confirmed Pope Benedict XVI would visit Britain between September 16-19. But the only stops confirmed so far are Glasgow, London and Coventry.

A spokesman for the Catholic Communications Network could not confirm whether or not the Pope would visit Oxford but said more itinerary details would be given “closer to the time”.

Cardinal Newman had strong links to Oxford, where he was received into the Roman Catholic Church, which is why there is speculation the Pope will visit the city.

The Pope is to meet the Queen and take part in an ecumenical service at Westminster Abbey as part of the visit.

Pope Benedict is to start his four-day trip in Scotland on September 16 where he will be received by the Queen at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, before travelling to Glasgow for an open air Mass at Bellahouston Park.

The Pontiff will travel to London where he will meet the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams at Lambeth Palace and pray with other church leaders at Westminster Abbey, organisers of the trip have confirmed.

His itinerary will also include an address at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament and the beatification of Cardinal Newman at an open-air Mass at Coventry Airport.

The move will bring the revered clergyman, who died in 1890, one step closer to becoming England's first non-martyred saint since the Reformation.

Further details of the trip will be disclosed closer to the date but his visit will not include Northern Ireland or Wales, it was confirmed.