SCOTLAND'S most influential Catholic cleric has described the Referendum debate as "cordial and heartening" and evidence of democratic maturity.

Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh Leo Cushley, who worked for a spell for Pope Francis and was appointed by him, compared the tone of the debate with some of his postings as a Vatican diplomat, which included spells in Egypt, Burundi and South Africa.

Archbishop Cushley also ruled out the role of religion in the debate, insisting he was encountering equal numbers of Catholics on either side.

He said there was an unprecedented level of public interest in the political debate, which he criticised for often being reduced to issues such as "tax breaks or different tax bands".

He said: "What I find interesting having lived and worked abroad for years and only coming back here last year after 20 years away is I'm struck by the cordiality of the debate.

"A couple of eggs have been thrown and a couple of words have been bandied around. But in general the debate has been robust but no more robust than a couple of loudly spoken words.

"And it's rather heartening, rather encouraging to see that we can have democratic debate that doesn't end up badly for everyone concerned. Its a remarkable testament to the society that we have here in Scotland."

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Archbishop Cushley, who was appointed to succeed sex scandal-hit Keith O'Brien, said he believed the Yes campaign had been able to mobilise its people better than No, which appeared to be having its effect with the narrowing gap.

He said Westminster appeared to be "far away, at least mentally, psychologically", adding: "For the first time in a generation, for a couple of ­generations, this is coming home once again and people are taking this seriously. So it's certainly exercising people's minds and getting them to engage in a democratic debate."

Along with his counterpart in Glasgow, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop Cushley, recently encouraged Catholics to vote in the forthcoming referendum and to pay attention to the issue of religious freedom.

But he downplayed the role of faith in the debate, and the fears in some Catholic circles that independence posed a threat to the future of denominational education.

He said he did not expect "earthquakes in our freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of worship" in the event of a Yes vote, claiming that either independent or within the UK "the general social and political consensus that exists in western Europe would not change."

Meanwhile, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland's general assembly will lead a prayer tomorrow, appealing for harmony whatever the outcome of the independence referendum.

The Rt Rev John Chalmers will deliver his sermon live on BBC Radio Four's Sunday Worship at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh.

He will say that while it is time for the people of Scotland to make their choice, they must continue to live with each other once the result is known