Region:
Europe
Category:
Society

Pope Francis begins two-day Irish visit

  • “I’m happy for this visit,” Francis said on the papal plane before he landed in Dublin
    Nearly 40 years since the last papal visit to Ireland, Pope Francis arrived on Saturday to a transformed country where the once-mighty Roman Catholic Church is in tatters, its authority buffeted by deepening secularization and a global sex abuse crisis challenging Francis’ papacy. “I’m happy for this visit,” Francis said on the papal plane before he landed in Dublin
Region:
Europe
Category:
Society
Publication date:
Print article

Pope Francis has arrived in the Republic of Ireland's first papal visit for almost 40 years.

The Pope is expected to meet some victims of clerical sex abuse later on Saturday.

In a letter to the world's 1.2bn Roman Catholics, the Pope this week condemned the "atrocities" of child abuse and clerical cover-ups.

The visit coincides with the World Meeting of Families - a global Catholic gathering held every three years.

The Pope was presented with flowers and vestments by children at the airport.

He then travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin, the Irish president's residence, where he has been welcomed by President Michael D Higgins, his wife Sabina and a military guard of honour.