When Pope Francis came to celebrate Mass in the Phoenix park, myself and my family were among the thousands who braved the elements to see him. I remember the Pope’s visit as being quite contentious. I was in college at the time and some of my classmates were sharing posts on social media threatening to…
In my mind, Pope Francis’s 2018 visit is inextricably connected to the then recent referendum defeat. I had only come into active engagement with the Faith as the vote drew near, and while it didn’t go our way and ushered in a dark new era, it brought Christians of all stripes together as little has…
Almost 40 years since he was a Jesuit priest studying in Ireland, Pope Francis’ return visit for the World Meeting of Families on August 25, 2018 was highly anticipated. Being in the small crowd of journalists waiting on the airstrip for the arrival of the Pope’s plane – affectionately dubbed by the media ‘Shepherd One’…
Abuse survivors in schools that are not run by the Catholic Church feel “marginalised” and “silenced” because they have not been included in a fresh inquiry into abuse, a campaigner has claimed. It comes after the Government announced that it has appointed a barrister to investigate recent allegations of historic abuse made by former students…
Justin McLellan Many of the 40 international trips Pope Francis has made over the past 10 years have been to countries where Christians are a minority or where he can draw close to people on the fringes of the world’s attention. The Pope always “chooses the peripheries”, said Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Vatican…
The cancelling of columnist with The Irish Catholic Mary Kenny by the University of Limerick (UL) has been dubbed “a disaster” by a local councillor. UL’s move is part of a “very worrying” proliferation of cancelling in universities across the western world, Independent Cllr Emmett O’Brien told The Irish Catholic. The veteran journalist and co-founder…
Over his decade-long papacy, Pope Francis has reinvigorated Catholic-Muslim relations through authentic friendships and a focus on shared concerns such as basic human rights, immigration and environmental care, two interfaith experts have insisted. “I think in many ways he has brought new life and a breath of fresh air to Muslim-Catholic dialogue,” said Imam Saffet…
Despite his parents being told at birth that it was likely he would never speak, Belfast-born actor James Martin became the first person with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award at the weekend. An Irish Goodbye won the Oscar for best live action short film. The film follows the story of two estranged brothers,…
Over the past 10 years, Pope Francis has moved Jewish-Catholic relations forward in profound ways, interfaith experts have said – with much of the credit going to the Pope’s long-standing friendships with Jewish leaders such as Rabbi Abraham Skorka. “When Pope Francis reflects on any Jewish matter, along with his knowledge, undoubtedly the affections forged…
Carol Glatz Pope Francis has held up two recurring images the past decade: the good shepherd who looks for the lost sheep, and who lays down his life to defend and save them; and the good Samaritan, who did not ignore, pity or judge the wounded traveller, but helped him without asking for anything in…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady