Pope Francis confirmed that he will visit Ireland in August of 2018. Roman Catholic Irish head of government Taoisigh Enda Kenny was on hand at the Vatican to receive the confirmation. The pope had already announced that he or his successor would attend the next meeting of the World Meeting of Families while at the previous meeting in Philadelphia last year. “I will come.” Francis said, and then added, “If I don’t come, my successor will come.”
But Pope Francis also wants to travel across the border to Northern Ireland to complete the plan of Pope John Paul II to visit the Protestant Ireland.
The pope gave Kenny 25 minutes after which Kenny said, “I want to say that the Pope has confirmed that he is coming to Ireland for the World Meeting of the Families,” adding: “We discussed what he might do and obviously that is a matter for His Holiness and the Bishops and if that means that he also travels to Northern Ireland, then we will co-operate and assist in whatever arrangements are arrived at.”
Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster, leader of the once staunchly anti-Catholic Democratic Unionists, has made clear she would want to meet him, at least as head of state.
“Meanwhile Dr. John Dunlop, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said… that the Protestant community should see the visit as an opportunity to “get over institutionalized anti-Catholicism,” and suggested that Northern Irish Protestants should read Evangelii Gaudium prior to the pope’s visit.”
The positive reaction in Northern Ireland toward a possible papal visit exposes how far the nation has come in ecumenism. Ecumenical unity is very, very important to Pope Francis, partly because it reduces opposition to Rome’s political engagement and its religious doctrines, and partly because it brings the churches under Rome’s influence. There just isn’t the same theological resistance today, than in the past.
The three decades of inter-religious violence in Northern Ireland ended after the 1998 power-sharing agreement between Catholics and Protestants was brokered by the Catholic Church.
The (Catholic) Primate of all Ireland, the Archbishop of Armagh, Eamonn Martin (no relation), said the visit would be a “deeply symbolic and powerful moment” for those in Ireland. He did not mention however, that the pope will also cross over into Northern Ireland during his visit. The Irish border will take on new significance once Brexit is implemented because Ireland wants to remain in the EU. No one knows how this will affect relationships. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is calling for a vote on unification between the two to take place in the next political term. The British government opposes a vote on unification. Into this standoff comes the papal visit to Ireland of 2018. It could have a powerful effect and boost the cause of unification on the Island.
“Francis’s message will naturally appeal to the shared island story, the history of monks and saints… and inclusivity – a sort of “reconciled diversity” in which “Ireland’s squabbling traditions come together as one – within the European Union.” The pope’s message will be framed in a context of respect for diversity and pluralism and will likely play on the resentful feelings of the Irish in Northern Ireland at being dragged out of the EU against their will. They will have the pope to thank if they unite with Republic of Ireland and avoid disconnecting with the EU.
Ireland and Northern Ireland wonder after… See Revelation 13:3.
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