WATCH: Irish comedians share a laugh with Pope Francis

Irish comedians Ardal O’Hanlon, Patrick Kielty, and Tommy Tiernan were in the audience of entertainers at The Vatican on Friday, June 14 to listen to a special address from Pope Francis.

Tiernan, who was born in Co Donegal and raised in Co Meath, could be seen enthusiastically applauding Pope Francis from the second row of the audience in a highlight video shared by the Vatican on Friday.

Jointly organized by the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education and Dicastery for Communication, Friday’s event in the Apostolic Palace was intended to "establish a link" between the Catholic Church and such artists, a June 8 press release from the Holy See said.

The three Irish comedians were part of an audience of more than 100 entertainers from around the world in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on Friday morning.

Pope Francis told his audience that he holds them in "high esteem" and praised them for being able to generate laughter even in the face of "gloomy news."

"While communication today often generates conflict, you know how to bring together diverse and sometimes contrary realities," the Pope said. "How much we need to learn from you!"

He added: "Can we laugh at God? Of course, we can, just as we play and joke with the people we love."

Concluding his address, the Pope told attendees: "Continue to cheer people up, especially those who have the hardest time looking at life with hope.

"Help us, with a smile, to see reality with its contradictions, and to dream of a better world!"

After his speech, each member of the audience - including Irish American entertainers Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Jim Gaffigan - shook the hand of Pope Francis.

Of the Irish comedians, Tiernan went first, then Kielty later, and finally O'Hanlon, who held up two small objects, presumably for the Pope to bless.

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June 14, 2024: Patrick Kielty meets Pope Francis at The Vatican. (Vatican Media)

It must have been a full circle moment for O'Hanlon who famously played the bumbling but loveable priest Father Dougal McGuire on the hit series "Father Ted."

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June 14, 2024: Ardal O'Hanlon meets Pope Francis at The Vatican. (Vatican Media)

You can watch the full video of Pope Francis's address - with English subtitles - here: