Archbishop Diarmuid Martin Although Pope Francis’ visit next year is likely to cost about €20m, events for children and the Mass in the Phoenix Park will be free in order to reduce financial stress on families, the Archbishop of Dublin has assured.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said that he wants the events at next August’s World Meeting of Families 2018 (WMOF2018) including the closing Mass in Dublin’s Phoenix Park to be accessible to all, adding that money still needs to be raised to make this possible.
“We’re very anxious that people and families can come without them experiencing financial difficulties – we won’t charge any admission for anything for children,” he said on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke. “It will cost over €20 million because of the complications of just gathering people together and security and technology that is needed to do that,” he explained.
“We have had Church collections that might bring about 5 million but the rest will come from fundraising. It’s a very difficult thing.”
He also described the international conference, based around the theme ‘The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World’, as a time where Christian families can come together to celebrate and strengthen what family means.
It will be hosted in Dublin next year from August 21-26, which includes a three-day Congress, a Festival of Families and a solemn Eucharistic celebration. Dr Martin added that it would be a “huge undertaking”.