cardinal kasper is pleading ill health, but it is difficult to not suspect a connection with an interview published in the german magazine. he compares atheism to a disease spreading and compares the u.k. to a third-world country. the mcconnell kasper is an insider, fellow german and senior aide to pope benedict for a decade -- >> cardinal kasper is an insider. he was part of the pope's entourage of britain, but just hours before pope benedict's plane lands, the cardinal has made provocative comments about britain's christian identity and culture. in the german magazine "focus," cardinal caspers said england today is a secular rise, pluralistic country. when you land at heathrow airport, you sometimes think you have landed in a third-world country. when asked whether christians in england are discriminated against, he said an aggressive neo-atheism is widespread. if you wear a cross with british airways, you are discriminated against. it is not known whether the pope has been told about the cardinal's views, but some commentators have expressed their unease. >> they do concern me never th

cardinal kasper said arriving at heathrow airport is like entering a third world country. he also claimed there was a new and aggressive atheism in britain. he said illness and not the interview was the reason behind his withdrawal. the pope's visit begins in scotland in a few hours time. >> colonel walter casper is a vatican insiders. he has been a senior aide to pope benedict for a decade. his role is to promote christian unity. he was part of the pope's entourage to britain. now, just hours before pope benedict's plane lands, the cardinal has made provocative comments about britain's christian identity and culture. in the german magazine "focus," he said england is a secular and pluralistic country. when you land at heathrow airport you sometimes think you landed at the third world country. when asked are christians in england discriminated against, he said an aggressive neo-'80s and is widespread. if you wear a cross at british airways, you are discriminated against. it is not known whether the pope has been told about the cardinals views. some catholic commentators ha

cardinal kasper no longer works with the pope, though he had been due to come to britain to act as an adviser. he has now canceled, the vatican says, because of poor health. the comments have been met with surprise and concern by those we spoke to in scotland. >> i do not know why he would say that. i think we do pretty well for ourselves, and people still believe in their religion anyway. >> i think he has to believe he meant it, especially someone that close to the pope. >> there is no suggestion pope benedict knew about the cardinal's, as before they were published, and the pope is aware of the potential damage they could now cause -- knew about the cardinal's comments before they were published. >> there is a potential of embarrassment with the timing being what it is. the vatican has been working to deflect criticism because of the police scandal and sexuality and abortion. >> thanks for being with us on "bbc world news." do stay if you can. still to come -- reaching out to pakistan's flood victims. more claims that islamist groups are stepping in to help. first, though, the dete

one of the pope's chief aides, cardinal walter kasper, gave an interview to a catholic magazine wheree compared london's heathrow airport to landing in a third world country. a lot of people were very offended by those comments. late last night, the cardinal pulled out of the trip. the vatican says he isn't feeling well. meredith. >> thank you very much. it is 7:05. here's matt. >>> to iran and an nbc exclusive. president mahmoud ahmadinejad is speaking out about the hiker, sarah shourd and the fate of her two companions still being jailed in that country. andrea mitchell sat down with him on wednesday. she's in tehran with the latest on this. andrea, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning, matt. iran's president pressed hard for the release of sarah shourd, partly as a gesture to america just before he travels to new york for next week's u.n. meeting. on all other subjects, he was confrontational. thank you, mr. president. iran's president, mahmoud ahmadinejad is taking credit for sarah shourd's release but said the fate of her fiance, shane bauer, and their friend, josh fatt