Michael KellyMichael Kelly In Rome
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he hopes that Pope Francis will pay a visit to Ireland North and South in the near future.
Mr Kenny was speaking at the Pontifical Irish College after meeting Pope Francis following Sunday’s canonisation ceremony.
The Taoiseach said “I invited him to Ireland, and while it’s not an official responsibility of the Government, I did say that if the Church authorities extended an invitation and he’s willing to travel, the Government will see to it that everything is done to make that visit a real success.”
He added: “It would be my hope that if it does happen, that the Pope would travel to Northern Ireland as well, given the changed events in politics where you’ve had the circle of history closed, as Her Majesty referred to, with her visit a few years ago, and Uachtaran Higgins’ visit to Britain in the last few weeks. The events warrant to be built upon”.
When asked by The Irish Catholic if the pontiff had reacted to his invitation, Mr Kenny said, “Well, I wouldn't say that his eyes lit up, but he did of course recognise the country I was speaking about, and the invitation is extended officially through the church authorities.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach announced that the Government will appoint Ireland’s new resident ambassador to the Vatican this week.