Catholics in Britain were today accused of failing to listen to the Pope after a charity hotline featuring the Pontiff drew only six calls in two months.
Businessman Mr Aidan O'Neill said he had been "appalled and shocked" after the £1.50-a-minute premium line drew a miserable response in spite of extensive advertising in the Catholic press.
Listeners are able to call the line for up to six minutes to hear the Pope praying in St Peter's Square in Rome in Latin - with the proceeds sent to leprosy victims in China.
Mr O'Neill (39), who is chief executive of Roslyn Publications Ltd and divides his time between Dublin and the UK, said the Popeline had been set up to generate income for a leprosy victims project in China.
"We cleared the use of messages with the Vatican and set up this hotline only to be shocked by the lack of activity. We thought UK-based Catholics would welcome an opportunity to join the Pope in prayer on the telephone at any time without the need to go to Rome," said Mr O’Neill.
"It appears the Pope doesn't have the same appeal he had with American Catholics".
The charity prayer line is available only in the UK and aims to raise money to rebuild a village for leprosy victims in the Yinnan Province, China.
Mr O'Neill said the money would be channelled to the Leprosy Mission in Ireland, part of the London-based international Christian charity.
PA