Chai Brady
Brenda Drumm, media and communications offi cer for WMOF2018, with Dublin’s
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin explaining the meaning of the World Meeting of Families icon to Pope Francis in St Peter's Square. Photo: L’Osservatore
Romano 
Anticipation and excitement are growing in what is being described as a time of “great celebration for the Catholic faithful” after Pope Francis confirmed his trip to Ireland.
The Pontiff stated he will visit Ireland for two days in August for the World Meeting of Families (WMOF). He will take part in the Festival of Families on Saturday 25 and the following day will say Mass in the Phoenix Park on Sunday 26.
The Bishop of Limerick, Brendan Leahy, highlighted that it would be only the second time a Pope has ever visited Ireland, with Pope John Paul II’s visit almost 40 years ago being the first.
“Some 3.7 million people on this island are of the Catholic faith so to have the global leader of that Faith coming here is a huge moment for our nation,” Dr Leahy said.
Wonderful moment
“There are people all over Ireland…excitedly making plans to be in either Croke Park or the Phoenix Park and it is going to be a wonderful moment in all our lives.”
He said that it is a “privilege” for Ireland to host the WMOF, and that it’s an opportunity to “restate the importance of family in Irish culture”.
Dr Leahy added that the Church has been through many crises over the years, and predicted that the Pope’s visit will be a time of renewal.
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Pope “is certainly a welcome guest” and that he looks forward to greeting him during his visit.
He added: “There will be appropriate involvement of civil authorities including security, public safety, protocol and co-ordination.”
Pope Francis may visit the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, with the founder Bro. Kevin Crowley saying arrangements to facilitate his attendance are ongoing and that it would be an “honour” to have him meet the centre’s homeless users.
Following the announcement the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference said they were “deeply honoured” the Pope is coming to the WMOF, which is a “celebration of Faith and joy, as well as of the contemporary challenges which face families”.
Francis confirmed the visit at his General Audience in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Wednesday, March 22 when he was presented with the WMOF2018 icon by two Irish families, the Tobin family from Co. Kildare and the Bushell family who live in Rome.
The theme of the gathering will be ‘The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World’.
