Michael KellyWith growing speculation that Pope Francis will visit Ireland, Michael Kelly explores potential options
Ireland’s new ambassador-designate to the Vatican Emma Madigan is scheduled to present her credentials from President Michael D. Higgins to Pope Francis imminently. Her appointment, after then-Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore announced in 2011 that Ireland was closing its embassy to the Holy See, represents a concrete rapprochement in relations.
The Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Charles Brown, has distinguished himself in representing the Holy See both to the local Church and to the State in Ireland. The warming in relations is due in no small part to Dr Brown’s quiet diplomacy and cordial interaction with Government officials.
The thaw in relations, after Enda Kenny’s now infamous Dáil speech in which he quoted Pope Benedict XVI out of context, and wrongly accused the Vatican of interfering in a State inquiry, has raised hopes that Pope Francis may consider visiting Ireland.
This week marks the 35th anniversary of Pope St John Paul’s historic visit to Ireland in 1979. But there is unfinished business from that trip: The Polish Pope was unable to visit the North because of the threat of violence and the delicate political situation in the region at the time. It was always a regret of John Paul II’s, and right up to the time of his death in 2005, there were tentative plans to make a short visit to the North.
Frosty reaction
Similarly, high-level discussions took place about a possible visit to Ireland by Benedict XVI, with the North’s deputy First Minister confidently predicting that the Pope would visit in 2012. This never happened and observers believe that the frosty reaction from the Irish Government put a stop to planning for such a visit.
It’s known that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is personally very supportive of a visit to the North by Pope Francis. She had hoped that her meeting with Benedict XVI in Edinburgh in 2010 would pave the way for such a visit. During that encounter, both Pontiff and monarch peppered their speeches with references to the warmer relations “between these islands”. In his opening words, Benedict referenced the peace process and the Queen thanked the Holy See for quiet behind-the-scenes diplomacy in the process.
So, with hopes high that Pope Francis will make a trip to Ireland, what would such a visit look like? Well, for starters, it’s certain that the Pontiff would visit both jurisdictions on the island.
The visit to the North, following Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the Republic and President Michael D. Higgins’ trip to Britain, is seen as key in the normalising relations. At the same time, Pope Francis’ visit to the Republic would also copperfasten a more mature understanding of Church-State relations.
Aside from the diplomacy, the Pontiff’s visit would also be a key moment in the renewal of the Church here. Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin has spoken of the need to put ‘fresh heart’ into the Church in Ireland. A visit by Pope Francis would surely contribute to this immensely.
In the European context, Francis has demonstrated that his preference is for short visits. Last month he made an 11-hour visit to Albania. In November, he will visit France to address the European Parliament staying in the country for a few hours followed by a visit to Turkey which is expected to last around 36 hours. So, a visit to Ireland is likely to be a short one.
Most Church officials, unwilling to give a photo opportunity to a Government that introduced abortion, rule out a visit by the Pope before the next general election which is scheduled for early 2016. So, Pope Francis could be expected to visit in the latter part of 2016. This would chime with ambitious plans for Knock Shrine which will see a major refurbishment of the basilica there and the incorporation of new faith formation and catechetical programmes aimed at pilgrims.
A papal visit to Knock could coincide with a rededication of the basilica. There has also been discussion that Knock would be redefined from Ireland’s national Marian Shrine to Ireland’s national marian and Eucharistic shrine.
If the Pope were to fly directly from Rome to Knock, the shrine could serve as an ideal focal point for a large gathering of pilgrims at which the Pope could set out a positive vision for the future of the Church in Ireland. It is also anticipated that Pope Francis may wish to meet more clerical abuse survivors and address the issue of abuse.
In the political sphere, Pope Francis has already been invited to address the Seanad. If a visit is forthcoming, this would be expected to be extended so that the Pontiff would address the combined Houses of the Oireachtas in Leinster House.
There would be an expectation that the Dublin leg of the visit would also include an outdoor Mass or other liturgy.
The visit to the North could be potentially more tricky. It is thought that Vatican planners would like to avoid Belfast and that an address to the Assembly at Stormont is unlikely, given the potential for hard-line unionists to disrupt proceedings.
Useful venue
The city of Derry could serve as a useful venue for a large public Mass, given that the western counties of the North are home to the largest Catholic populations.
It would also allow Catholics from Donegal to participate in a large papal liturgy. But there is also the question of Armagh: as See of St Patrick, and a diocese which straddles the border, Armagh is a concrete expression of harmonious North-South relations. The Pope is likely to want to include an ecumenical dimension to his trip, and an event like ecumenical Vespers including both the Catholic and Church of Ireland cathedrals would send out a powerful message.
There is also the thorny issue of who would welcome Pope Francis to the North. If it is a State visit, Queen Elizabeth II would be the obvious choice. However, the sight of Pope Francis standing with the Queen or another senior member of the British royal family for the playing of God Save The Queen might be too much for some Northern Catholics to stomach. That said, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness attending a state banquet at Windsor Castle was unthinkable just a few years ago.
The North’s First Minister Peter Robinson has indicated that he would be open to meeting the Pope, but only in the context of the Pope’s role as Head of State.
If Mr Robinson is still First Minister following the May 2016 Assembly elections, such a meeting could take place privately, perhaps in tandem with a meeting with Queen Elizabeth at her official residence in the North’s Hillsborough Castle.
Vatican officials are likely to weigh up all the probabilities and liaise closely with officials on both sides of the border.
There is an inevitable political and diplomatic aspect to any papal visit, but Pope Francis, if he visits Ireland, will do so first and foremost as a pastor to give ‘fresh heart’ to the work of the renewal and reform of the Church here.