The Archbishop of Armagh revealed 2032 would be the perfect time for the Pontiff to make the journey North during his pontificate, breaking new ground where his predecessors did not go.
While Pope John Paul II visited the Republic in 1979 and Pope Francis came for the World Meeting of Families in 2018, neither visited Northern Ireland — something Archbishop Martin hopes will change.
“I would be really delighted if at some point during his pontificate Pope Leo might consider coming to the island of Ireland and particularly to pay a visit to the North,” he said, “Given that, of course, Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II were not able to do that for different reasons.”
Archbishop Martin pointed to a significant milestone: “I think that there are obvious times when that might be done, particularly given that 2032 — it might seem a long way away today, it’s seven years away but that’s not that long in terms of planning for something like this – is the Patrician year, where we’ll be marking the 16th centenary of the coming of St Patrick to Ireland, it will be a big year for us and a really hopeful year, so that is one possible opportunity to put an invitation to Pope Leo to consider coming to Ireland and indeed coming to the North.”
Reflecting on the last papal visit, Archbishop Martin said that “at the time of the World Meeting of Families, it was interesting that all of the Church leaders on the island of Ireland, all of the Christian churches, wrote to Pope Francis at the time and said, listen, you’d be really welcome to Northern Ireland.
“And the reason for that was we felt that a lot has been achieved in the North in terms of the peace process and that a visit of the Pope would be a real affirmation of peace, of reconciliation and of hope. And for those reasons, I certainly do feel a visit of the Holy Father to the North of Ireland, to Northern Ireland, would be a particularly strong symbolic moment for all of us who’ve been working towards peace and sharing and a shared island here in Ireland.”
Archbishop Martin highlighted there would be practical challenges, saying: “A papal visit is a huge thing for any country to organise. And of course, the World Meeting of Families which was in 2018 was something that was of considerable expense and resources. So we have to think of factors as to whether or not that could happen as well, will we have the resources?”
He added: “I suppose from my own point of view, I do see this as maybe something in the medium term rather than in the short term. I would certainly be open to the idea of inviting Pope Leo at an appropriate moment to consider coming to Ireland and indeed to come North.”