A nine-year-old boy who wrote to the Pope asking him to "help keep his cancer away" will be blessed by the Pontiff on his visit to Scotland.

Anton McManus, from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, will meet Pope Benedict ahead of his Glasgow Mass after the Vatican granted the schoolboy's request today.

Doctors discovered a cancerous tumour on Anton's spine when he was four. He then underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy and had to endure two operations when his neck snapped. He enjoys school and playing with his friends but is scared that the cancer will return.

After hearing about the Pope's visit to Scotland, the youngster wrote to the Vatican for help.

Anton wrote to the Pontiff: "I was really ill and now I am feeling better, even though I can't do a lot of things my friends can do. I am writing this letter to ask if you could bless me when you come to Glasgow to help keep my cancer away as I think if anyone could help, God can.

"I really hope I will be lucky enough to meet you as it would mean the world to me. I will keep praying to see if they get answered."

The Pontiff will stop and bless the schoolboy as he enters Bellahouston Park before taking Mass with an estimated 65,000 pilgrims.

His parents, Kevin and Tammy, said Anton has been given a "chance in a million".