Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will speak at a debate held on 1 September in London for the motion: The Papal Visit should not be a State Visit.
Philosopher AC Grayling will join Mr Tatchell in speaking for the motion, while Austen Ivereigh (a Catholic journalist) and Father Christopher Jamison, seen on the BBC TV series The Monastery, will speak against it.
The debate will be chaired by Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, and will be held at Conway Hall in Holborn. It is organised by the Central London Humanist Group in partnership with the British Humanist Association and the South Place Ethical Society, as part of the Protest the Pope Campaign.
Pope Benedict XVI will visit England and Scotland from 16-19 September, in the first papal visit to Britain since 1982. The visit has attracted protests as some people argue it appears to demonstrate British support for the religious leader’s views.
Speaking in advance of the debate, Peter Tatchell said: "As democrats, we believe the Pope has every right to visit Britain and express his opinions. But we also have a right to protest against his often harsh, extreme views. We have a right to say that he is not welcome.
"The Protest the Pope campaign is calling on the British government to disassociate itself from the Pope's intolerant teachings on issues such as women's rights, contraception, gay equality and the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV. On these and many other issues, Benedict is out of step with the majority of British people, including most Catholics.”
Alan Palmer, chair of the Central London Humanists said: "Our criticism of this State visit is not an attack on Catholics or on the rights of people to follow their religion. We want to give people the opportunity to debate the issue… We genuinely want also to hear the arguments in favour of the State visit. We welcome everyone whatever their political conviction or their religion or belief to explore the issues and participate in the debate."
The free debate will take place at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL on Wednesday 1 September and starts at 7pm.