Pope Benedict XVI has promised a visit to Ireland in the next two years, most likely during the Eucharistic Congress, after apologizing for not visiting the country during his recent tour of the UK.
The 49th International Eucharistic Congress – a gathering of Catholics from all over the world – will be held in Dublin in 2012.
A senior Vatican official said that, “There is a strong likelihood that Pope Benedict will visit Ireland in 2012 as part of the Eucharistic Congress.”
"This year has been a troubled time for the Church in Ireland and His Holiness has expressed his closeness to the people and to the clergy - what better way to show his closeness than by a visit to the faithful," he said.
In September, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said that he thought a papal visit would take place in 2012. "I also have some grounds for believing that could happen as soon as 2012," he said at the time.
The last papal visit was by Pope John Paul II in 1979, when, famously, millions of Catholics came out to see the Pope. With the child sex scandals and the general decline of the church’s power, it is unlikely that such scenes will be repeated. Indeed, when Pope Benedict visited the UK, just a few thousand people travelled to see him.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Dublinjas | Oct 18, 2010, 11:02 PM EDT
"Christ’s Irish parlour" No need for a Bible when they got such a Scribe as you @jacersagain,
jacersagain | Oct 18, 2010, 05:36 PM EDT
After watching what Pope Benedict successfully achieved against all adversary during his State visit to Scotland and England (btw Barry J - it wasn't a few thousands who travelled to see him, get yr facts right and bear in mind that attendances were deliberately limited for security reasons, it being a State visit) I'd say Pope Benedict, or whichever Pope is in the See of Peter in two years time, will be most welcome in Ireland. After all, Ireland is once again being privileged to host the International Eucharistic Congress. Alongside celebration of the Mass, a Vigil with the Eucharist (Benediction) is a most holy, prayerful and peaceful occasion, one where we experience and share, through the living Christ, God's love for us all - as was enjoyed by thousands physically present, and billions others watching on TV worldwide, on that Saturday evening before Henry Newman’s beatification. Of course we all in Ireland will be there for a Pope’s visit in 2 yrs time. It will be an Apostolic Visit of a kind and certainly a humble Shepherd’s visit to us lost and doubting lambs. Take note, irishfez, Portia and other anti-Pope wimps, there’ll be a strong welcoming place for you in Christ’s Irish parlour in 2 yrs time.
irishfez | Oct 18, 2010, 02:59 PM EDT
He won't be welcome!
antoman | Oct 18, 2010, 02:30 PM EDT
What have we done to deserve this?Did someone here forget to bless themselves at 6pm?We can't afford this,the visit will break us.Sure did'nt we use a turkey(dustin) in the eurovision to ensure we would'nt win it and have to host the damn thing the following year.Government luncheons for the press here,consist of bread and butter and a mug of tae.I imagine our airforce will dust off the two P51's and old German WW2 heinkel bomber we have,,and do a flyboy.Too expensive,even two years from now.