WHILE the question of a papal visit to Ireland in June
next year remains open, no plans have been made, Archbishop Diarmuid
Martin said Monday.
Pope Benedict XVI has been invited to be the chief
celebrant at an open-air mass in Dublin’s Croke Park on June 17, 2012,
at the end of the week-long 50th International Eucharistic Congress.
"There are no plans in place for a visit of the Pope at this moment. The Pope has been invited but the Pope’s programme has not been decided," said the archbishop.
The archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, and Dr Martin, were in the RDS in Dublin to launch details of the week-long congress.
Dr Martin was asked if he would view the decision not to have a papal presence in Ireland as a judgment on the sad state of the Irish Catholic Church following a series of clerical child abuse scandals.
"I would not say his (Pope Benedict’s) coming or not to the congress would be a definitive gesture by him to what has happened in the past," said the archbishop
Archbishop Martin pointed out that the Pope did not attend the 49th International Eucharistic Congress that took place in Quebec in Canada in 2008.
"There are no plans in place for a visit of the Pope at this moment. The Pope has been invited but the Pope’s programme has not been decided," said the archbishop.
The archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, and Dr Martin, were in the RDS in Dublin to launch details of the week-long congress.
Dr Martin was asked if he would view the decision not to have a papal presence in Ireland as a judgment on the sad state of the Irish Catholic Church following a series of clerical child abuse scandals.
"I would not say his (Pope Benedict’s) coming or not to the congress would be a definitive gesture by him to what has happened in the past," said the archbishop
Archbishop Martin pointed out that the Pope did not attend the 49th International Eucharistic Congress that took place in Quebec in Canada in 2008.
"That did not mean he did not
appreciate what took place," he said.
"I think the Pope’s commitment to the renewal taking place in the Irish church and his awareness as to how that is proceeding is a clear indication that he is fully supporting what is going on," he said.
Cardinal Brady said the 1932 congress in Dublin was an organisational success and it publicly showcased Catholic faith in the newly established state.
The event is expected to attract 12,000 international visitors and congress general manager Anne Griffin said her office would be encouraging delegates to extend their stay in Ireland.
"I think the Pope’s commitment to the renewal taking place in the Irish church and his awareness as to how that is proceeding is a clear indication that he is fully supporting what is going on," he said.
Cardinal Brady said the 1932 congress in Dublin was an organisational success and it publicly showcased Catholic faith in the newly established state.
The event is expected to attract 12,000 international visitors and congress general manager Anne Griffin said her office would be encouraging delegates to extend their stay in Ireland.