Archbishop says Church must ‘not be afraid of change’

ALL SMILES  Archbishop Michael Neary and Fr Richard Gibbons enjoy a lighter moment during the address of Pope Francis on the specially constructed stage at Knock Shrine.  Pic: Maxwells

Anton McNulty

The Catholic Church will ‘be left behind’ if it does not respond to the ‘various challenges in modern society’, according to the Archbishop of Tuam, Michael Neary.
Pope Francis was greeted warmly by thousands of people at Knock Shrine on Sunday and Archbishop Neary said the ‘excitement, the joy and the enthusiasm’ of the welcome captured the mentality of the people of the west of Ireland.
While believing that the visit of Pope Francis will be something this generation ‘will remember for years to come’, he accepts that for the Catholic Church must not be afraid of change if it wants to be relevant for the next generation.
“While faith in many ways will remain the same, the expressions of faith must change. I believe this Pope recognises that fact and is not afraid of change. Unless the Church decides to change and respond to the questions being asked today, then it will just be left behind. There are people with different concerns and the cries of the human heart and the faith. The Church must endeavour to read those [concerns] and respond to them correctly. Pope Francis is leading the way in that,” he told The Mayo News.
Archbishop Neary was one of the people who was instrumental in encouraging Pope Francis to visit Knock as the Marian Shrine had not originally been part of the agenda for the World Meeting of Families.
“We are delighted to think that the Holy Father, who has only 36 hours in Ireland made time to come down to pray in Knock, and meet the people of the West. He has a great devotion to Our Lady and was gently persuaded by some of us that a pilgrimage to the World Meeting of Families would in many ways be incomplete without a visit to the Knock Shrine,” he said.

Delegation
Archbishop Neary, along with Bishop John Fleming, Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop Brendan Kelly, Bishop John Kirby and Fr Dermot Meehan, were among the delegation of local bishops who greeted Pope Francis at Knock Airport.
Bishop of Killala, the Most Reverend John Fleming believed that despite the criticism of the Pope’s visit had received prior to him arriving in Ireland, he believes the visit will have a positive legacy.
“He’s the most human individual you can meet. The legacy will be that people will feel connected to the Pope. That connection strengthens their belief in their faith. That is the important thing. That is the legacy for the country not just for Knock. To me he is a brave man. He’s nearly 82 and he is out there facing strong criticism and he deals with it and does the right thing.”