The Primate of All Ireland has said he isn’t “ruling out the possibility” of Pope Francis visiting the North of Ireland at some point in the future, and that it may have to be a “specific” visit.
Speaking in Maynooth University on June 11, Archbishop of Armagh Eamonn Martin said there’s disappointment at the “level of parishes, families and people” that the Pontiff won’t be visiting the North for the World Meeting of Families this August but that he will be pushing for a future visit.
“I don’t get any sense from those who I have been speaking to that the Holy Father is ruling out the possibility of ever coming to Northern Ireland. I think that will now have to be a specific visit and I’m hoping that it will occur soon and I’m trying to encourage those in Rome that might happen,” Dr Martin said.
He added that a huge number of people from the North will be travelling to attend the festival and that people are “delighted” the Pope is coming to the island.
