Greg Daly
Pope Francis’ decision to switch Vatican oversight for shrines and sanctuaries to the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation has been welcomed by the priests who run Ireland’s principal shrines.
Until this weekend, shrines and sanctuaries came under the jurisdiction of the Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy, but on Saturday, April 1, the Pope transferred them to the council that was established in 2010 with the aim of promoting the Faith in the Church’s historical heartlands.
“Despite the crisis of faith impacting the modern world, these places still are perceived as sacred spaces where pilgrims go to find moments of rest, silence and contemplation in the midst of a life that is often frenetic,” the Pope said of his decision to give the council responsibility for such things as promoting the shrines’ evangelising activity, supporting pastoral initiatives organised between shrines, and ensuring pilgrims are offered the spiritual support they need.
“In a way it stands to reason,” Fr Richard Gibbons, Rector of Knock Shrine, told The Irish Catholic. “The hope here in Knock is about evangelisation and reaching out to people as best we can,” he said, adding, “Especially, in light of Pope Francis, to reach out to people who might never think of coming near a shrine.”
Fr Owen McEneaney, Prior of Lough Derg, agreed, saying, “It makes a lot of sense”.
Citing how Pope Benedict described becoming Christian as the result of a personal encounter with Christ, he told The Irish Catholic, “The nature of Lough Derg and in particular its three-day pilgrimage gives people that extended period of time that – while it’s a challenging pilgrimage – facilitates the personal encounter with Christ that Pope Benedict was very strong on and that Pope Francis has picked up.”
He said the change would put pilgrimage “centre stage” in Church life, adding, “Pilgrimage is essentially about people who have drifted away a bit from the Church and about people who have been very faithful both coming to that personal encounter with the Lord – I think that’s at the heart of evangelisation.”