Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin has indicated that a visit by Pope Francis to Northern Ireland might still be possible despite the brevity of his visit to Dublin in August.
On 21 March, the Pope announced he would be in Dublin for the World Meeting of Families on 25-26 August.
A number of bishops in Northern Ireland have since expressed the hope that there would still be scope during those two days for a visit north of the border.
The Archbishop, who is president of the World Meeting of Families, told the Irish Times on Easter Sunday that if the bishops in Northern Ireland organised an event around the family, “that might make it easier”. He ruled out a “political event.”
Separately, in an interview on RTE Radio, Dr Martin said he would like the forthcoming papal visit to be inclusive and that he would like the Pontiff to learn something of the Travellers, “a community that has the highest child mortality and the lowest life expectancy and large numbers in prison”.
He added that he hoped that the Pope would meet with struggling families, refugees, prisoners and the homeless. A meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse was also on the cards.
The archbishop expressed concern that some of the protocol issues around the visit would take more time than meeting with the poor and marginalised and he also expressed the hope that the people around the Pontiff would allow him “to say what he wants to and what he should say”.
Of the recent revelations of child sexual abuse by deceased Dromore priest Fr Malachy Finegan, Dr Martin described the stories that are emerging as “horrendous”.
He rejected the claims of those in the Church who said they didn’t know about Fr Finegan’s abuse. “I know a lot of people covered up or they didn’t talk or were afraid to talk; but as I say, let the truth come out.”
He added that if there was no confidence in a church investigation, then an external investigation should be held.
PICTURE: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin during the annual Good Friday 'Way of the Cross' procession from the Wellington Monument to the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park, Dublin ©PA
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