Papal visit to Ireland looks likely according to Archbishop

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has given the biggest hint yet that Pope Francis could come to Ireland in the next two years.

Ireland hasn’t had a papal visit since the late Pope John Paul II visited Ireland in 1979.

However, Archbishop Martin has revealed that Pope Francis has admitted he ‘would love to come to Ireland’ and admitted he may visit our shores in 2018.

“I am very hopeful that he will come,” Archbishop Martin told reporters on Saturday at the official launch of the World Meeting of Families, which the Irish Church will host in August 2018.

Pope Francis personally chose Dublin as the venue for the 2018 event and the theme of the gathering is ‘The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World’.

Last Friday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Archbishop Martin had informed him of the Irish bishops’ invitation to the Pope.

In Brussels, Mr Kenny said if Francis accepted the invitation, he had assured Archbishop Martin that “the Government would respond appropriately, would welcome Pope Francis, and would make all the arrangements to treat him in a proper and respectful manner as befits his position as the head of the Catholic Church”.