The Pope in Ireland   Visiting the Marian Shrine Praying for the victims of abuse in Ireland, Pope Francis begged the Lord for forgiveness and for the intercession of Our Lady to heal survivors. During his visit to the Marian Shrine in Knock the Pope described the clerical abuse scandals in Ireland as an “open…

The Pope in Ireland   Even wind and rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of up to 300,000 pilgrims who made their way to Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Sunday where a carnival atmosphere surrounded the closing Mass of the ninth World Meeting of Families. A host of performers ranging from Audrey Assad and Eimear Quinn to…

The Pope in Ireland   The closing Mass in Phoenix Park Christians face enormous challenges in bearing witness to their Faith, but must never be “swayed or discouraged” by those who resist it, the Pope has said. Speaking in Dublin’s Phoenix Park at the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families, the Pope said…

The Pope in Ireland   The long-anticipated moment has arrived. Ever since Pope Francis chose Ireland three years ago to play host to the international World Meeting of Families gathering, he was determined to set foot on Irish soil. “I will come – if I don’t come, my successor will come,” he said. Pope Francis…

The Pope in Ireland   Praised globally for reaching out to those on the margins, and for touching the hearts and minds of millions of people, our current Pontiff has made a magnanimous impact in the world today. But what is the story behind the man in the white robes? Who is Pope Francis? Jorge…

The Pope in Ireland A two-year exile helped make the future Pope the man he is, writes Greg Daly   “I’m very pleased with the way things have gone,” Fr James Kelly SJ told The Irish Catholic in 2015, two years into Pope Francis’ papacy. “He has surprised me. He’s a changed man.” Fr Kelly,…

The Pope in Ireland Chai Brady discusses the Pope’s trips abroad and their importance   Although Pope Francis has travelled many times within Italy, it is his foreign trips that have drawn the most interest – and sometimes controversy. He is the first Pope to enter a warzone, is not afraid to tackle delicate political…

The Pope in Ireland After five years has Francis lived up to Irish expectations?   Fr Alan Hillard “No papacy is perfect”, says Fr Alan Hilliard, a Dublin-based priest and strong advocate of migrant’s rights, but in the five years that Francis has been Pope, he has exceeded expectations. Referencing the author Austen Ivereigh, Fr…

The Pope in Ireland Pope Francis is a Pope for a truly global Church, writes 
Prof. Eamonn Conway   The World Meeting of Families coincides with news of shameful sex crimes by clergy against children and vulnerable adults in the USA in recent past decades. At first glance it might seem that little progress has…

The Pope in Ireland The Pope’s most controversial document is an attempt to face reality, writes Greg Daly   “I see the Church as a field hospital after battle,” Pope Francis told the Jesuit Fr Antonio Spadaro in a September 2013 interview. “It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol…