“Thank you for your ministry,” Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis has described as “beautiful” a new book published by The Irish Catholic which acts as an introduction to the Pontiff’s landmark letter The Joy of the Gospel. Written by theologian Fr Eamonn Conway with The Irish Catholic journalist Cathal Barry, Blueprint for the Church aims to set out what the Pope’s vision of the Church means for Irish parishes and Catholics in the pews.
Pope Francis was presented with a copy of the book during an audience with The Irish Catholic editor Michael Kelly in Rome last week. Expressing delight, the Pontiff said “how beautiful” when Mr Kelly explained that the book was being used in Irish parishes to help understand Francis’ call for the Church to become more missionary.
“Thank you for your ministry,” Pope Francis said before blessing Mr Kelly and presenting him with a pair of rosary beads.
Deeply moved
Mr Kelly said he was “deeply moved” by the experience. “I told the Holy Father that I would love him to come to Ireland, to which he simply smiled. I told him that the people of Ireland were praying for him and I asked him to pray for the renewal of the Church in Ireland, and especially for reconciliation and transformation in Northern Ireland.
“Let us pray together,” the Pope said.
“I thanked him for his wonderful service for the Church and told him it was helping to bring fresh heart to the Catholics of Ireland,” Mr Kelly said.