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Pope Benedict XVI has come under fire from Jewish groups in Britain following a report that his address to Parliament will occur on the eve of Yom Kippur.

The Cabinet Office has rejected requests to change the Sept. 17 speech to earlier in the day or to a different day during the pope’s four-day visit to Britain, according to the Jewish Chronicle. The speech at Westminster Hall is scheduled to end before the start of the holy day, but Jewish leaders have said it will impinge on preparations, such as eating before the start of the fast. — jta