Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd after he celebrated Mass at the Metz Cathedral in France, September 28, 2026, the final day of his four-day apostolic journey to the country. Photo: OSV News / Sebastien Bozon, Reuters. The recent visit of Pope Leo to Paris, Lourdes and Metz with its images of jubilant, predominantly youthful throngs, cheering and singing, brought back memories of similar scenes from the Ireland of September, 1979 when Pope St John Paul II took Ireland by storm. Today, memories of that visit have a dark lining. It is…
