A time of renewal lies ahead for the Church in Ireland, Pope Francis has assured the country’s bishops. Addressing members of the hierarchy before returning to Rome, the Pope said that while upheavals of recent years have tested the faith of the Irish people, they have also “offered the opportunity for an interior renewal of…
Rome will host the 10th World Meeting of Families in three years’ time, Cardinal Kevin Farrell has announced. Drawing to a close the final Mass of the 2018 World Meeting of Families, the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life said to Pope Francis, “Holy Father, it is with great joy that…
Pope Francis has used Mass in Dublin’s Phoenix Park to to beg forgiveness and issue a wide-ranging apology for Church abuses. In an unprecedented extended penitential rite at the beginning of Mass with an estimated 500,000 people for the World Meeting of Families, the Pontiff said that he wanted to seek forgiveness for abuse of…
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 that being a Christian isn’t “easy”, and the challenges they face…
The message of the Gospel is an “invitation and a challenge” to all families to make time and space for prayer in the home, Tuam’s archbishop has said. Speaking in the Shrine to Our Lady of Knock in the presence of Pope Francis, Archbishop Michael Neary said it was an “honour, a privilege, and a…
Praying for the victims of abuse in Ireland, Pope Francis has begged the Lord for forgiveness and for the intercession of Our Lady to heal survivors. During his visit to Knock the Pope described the clerical abuse scandals in Ireland as an “open wound”, while praying at the Shrine in front of an audience of…
The Church and Irish society can be renewed if parents dedicate themselves to living Christian lives and providing examples of Christian living to their children, Pope Francis has said in an address to married and engaged couples in Dublin’s pro cathedral. Highlighting how he is in Ireland to preside over the closing stages of the…
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that religion will continue to play an important role in Irish society in the future. In a carefully-worded speech to welcome the Pope to Dublin Castle, Mr Varadkar also said he hoped that the Pope would soon be able to cross the border and make a visit to the North.…
President Higgins has welcomed how Pope Francis has spoken of abuse in his recent pastoral letter, and urged him to follow these words with actions. The President took advantage of today’s papal visit to Áras an Uachtaráin today to raise the issue of suffering and hurt caused by child abuse perpetrated within the Church. According…
BREAKING Pope Francis has said the clerical abuse of young people in Ireland was a “betrayal of trust” by Church authorities, and remains a source of “pain and shame” for the Catholic community. He also attacked our “throw-away culture” which strips the unborn of the right to life – a significant statement following the recent…
Greg Daly
Michael Kelly
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady