Irish hierarchy to meet Pope Francis in Rome

the bishops of Ireland have been criticised for refusing to bring proposals on ending mandatory celibacy for priests to Pope Francis’ attention during their first ad limina visit to Rome in 10 years, writes Sarah Mac Donald.

The lay reform group, the Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI), warned that the growing priests’ shortage needs to be addressed “as a matter of urgency to ensure access by the faithful to the Eucharist in the years ahead”.

More than 26 bishops representing every diocese on the island were due to meet Pope Francis on Friday.

The Irish Bishops’ Conference had an “inconclusive discussion” on celibacy, arising out of recommendations made during Kilmore diocese’s listening process, and brought to the Irish Bishops’ Conference’s attention by Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore. The Kilmore meeting recommended that priests who left ministry to get married should be invited to return to ministry. The ACI said it fully supported Bishop O’Reilly’s proposal to set up a commission to examine the issue of celibacy and women deacons.

“It is just disappointing that we had this opportunity and imaginative solutions put forward by Bishop O’Reilly for consideration and it doesn’t appear to have gone anywhere,” Noel McCann of the ACI said.

In Rome this week, at the tomb of St Peter, the Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin prayed “in a special way” for priests in Ireland, acknowledging that their “smaller numbers, increased workload and ever more challenging pastoral situations has taken its toll on them”.