The Bishop of Killaloe will invite Pope Francis to Clare as part of an expected trip to Ireland in 2018. It comes as the Catholic Bishops of Ireland have officially extended an invitation to the pontiff to attend the World Meeting of Families in 2 years time.
If he accepts, it would be the first visit by a pope since John Paul II in 1979.
Bishop Fintan Monahan believes a visit by the Pope would be a joyous occasion for the people of the diocese.