Hopes high for Papal visit to Knock Shrine

Michael Commins

AFTER the amazing success of the visit of Pope Francis to the USA and his announcement at the closing Mass of his three day visit on Sunday evening in Philadelphia that the next World Meeting of Families will be held in Dublin in 2018, hopes have soared of a Papal Visit to Ireland to coincide with the event. Should it come to pass, a visit to the National Marian Shrine in Knock is almost certain.
The announcement that the next gathering is Dublin-bound came at the end of a phenomenally successful trip which saw unprecedented and glowing coverage.
In Knock, thousands congregated for the National Eucharistic Congress hosted by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference over the weekend. The attendance on Sunday surpassed all expectations, resulting in overflow crowds at the Basilica for the main ceremonies.
Numerous workshops as well as reflections and lectures were also staged on Saturday and Sunday at various venues on the church grounds, including the three specially erected marquees.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, was the chief celebrant at the Mass on Saturday where “tenderness” was the theme of his address.
Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam was the chief celebrant on Sunday, and His Excellency Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, preached the homily.