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The Pope in Ireland

The Pope in Ireland

Pope Francis begs forgiveness for clerical sex abuse by clergy and those in religious institutions

Niamh Towey Sun, Aug 26
 
LIVE: The Pope in Ireland

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  • 07:46
    Welcome to day two of our live coverage of the visit by Pope Francis to Ireland. The two main events are the pope's visit to Knock this morning followed by the largest event of the visit, the papal Mass at the Phoenix Park at 3pm. For those of you not in Dublin I can confirm that it is raining this morning, although this is due to clear up later.
  • 07:49

    If you have not yet had a chance to read Miriam Lord's wonderful take on Saturday's events it is here. Says a lot about modern Ireland when one of our Ministers is taking the pope to task over what happened in Tuam . . . in Italian.



    https://www.irishtimes.com/...

  • 07:51
    Whether you are trying to get to the Papal Mass or do anything else in the city centre today there are a huge number of traffic restrictions in place. Details of the restrictions can be found here and we will provide rolling updates on traffic jams and other transport issues throughout the day. https://www.irishtimes.com/...
  • 07:56

    Another aspect of the first day of the papal visit is the 'quietly rueful demeanour' displayed by the pope. As Fitnan O'Toole points out this could could hardly present a starker contrast to the radiant charisma and supreme self-confidence of his predecessor John Paul II in 1979. Fintan explores this point here and also notes the whistlestop tour is far, far too short to have any meaningful impact. https://www.irishtimes.com/...

  • 07:59

    This is the weather forecast from Met Eireann for Dublin today.

    Rather windy and wet at first, with heavy rain clearing by mid morning. However it will stay rather cloudy and misty with patchy rain at times to early afternoon but dry periods also, low cloud on higher ground. Brightening up during the afternoon with some sunny spells developing later in the afternoon and evening, but there will be some scattered showers also. Afternoon highs of 18 or 19 degrees Celsius and breezy with fresh and gusty westerly winds setting by noon.More updates here: https://www.met.ie/forecast...

  • 08:04
    A screen showing Pope Francis speaking to the WMoF18 festival of families at Croke Park on Saturday night.
    A screen showing Pope Francis speaking to the WMoF18 festival of families at Croke Park on Saturday night.
  • 08:04
    Last night's World Meeting of Famlies event in Croke Park ran an hour or so longer than exopected. Conor Pope's report on the event is here. https://www.irishtimes.com/...
  • 08:27
    <div>It is, as they say, a grand soft day in Mayo where pilgrims are arriving at Knock Holy Shrine. This morning Pope Francis will view the Apparition Chapel and then give the Angelus address. Photograph: PA </div>
    It is, as they say, a grand soft day in Mayo where pilgrims are arriving at Knock Holy Shrine. This morning Pope Francis will view the Apparition Chapel and then give the Angelus address. Photograph: PA
  • 08:32
    But the rain at Knock is not dampening the spirits of this girl. Photograph: PA
    But the rain at Knock is not dampening the spirits of this girl. Photograph: PA
  • 08:40
    In case you are wondering why the pope is going to Knock in Co Mayo, and indeed, why there is a shrine there, Maria Casey, marketing and communications manager at Knock Shrine, can explain.
    She says on August 21st, 1879,   an apparition appeared to 15 people from the village of Knock. At the time, Knock was a small, rural village.
    At about 8.30pm on that night 15 people saw a light coming from the parish church so they made their way over to the gable wall to see what it was.
    They saw the apparition of Our Lady, St Joseph, St John the Evangelist and a lamb. Reports said the apparition lasted for two hours.
    Ms Casey says there was an investigation and people also started to come in the hope of receiving cures and Knock became synonymous for that.  
    She said the site has developed over the years and is unique in that it is the only shrine in the world where the Lamb of God appeared. She adds as well as being a Marian shrine, it is a Eucharistic shrine and people are drawn to the beautiful atmosphere. So now you know.

  • 08:43

    For those you in Knock or on the way, here is the weather forecast from Met Eireann for today. I think changeable just about covers it.

    Connacht forecast: indy with heavy rain clearing eastwards early this morning, but staying rather cloudy and misty, with patchy rain at times and low cloud on higher ground, but generally drying by early afternoon. Brightening up during the afternoon with some sunny spells developing later in the afternoon and evening, but there will be scattered showers also. Breezy with fresh and gusty westerly winds setting this morning and afternoon highs of 16 or 17 degrees Celsius. More detail here https://www.met.ie/forecast...

  • 08:46
    Another picture of happy people wrapped in plastic in the rain in Mayo. We are not selecting just the wet photos . . . every image we are getting from there this morning shows it bucketing down. Photograph: Reuters
    Another picture of happy people wrapped in plastic in the rain in Mayo. We are not selecting just the wet photos . . . every image we are getting from there this morning shows it bucketing down. Photograph: Reuters
  • 08:48

    A little more detail on what will happen as the pope visits Knock this morning:


    The rector of Knock Shrine expects Pope Francis to address issues paramount to the Catholic Church. Fr Richard Gibbons told RTE he hoped the remarks would be significant and would have a resonance with those in attendance and the wider church community. Francis will spend around an hour at the shrine this morning. He is expected to meet local families, pray and address around 45,000 people at the ticketed event.

  • 08:55

    In case you are asking yourself who is Pope Francis, our intrepid Religious Affairs Correspondent and all round top gent Patsy McGarry has written a detailed profile of the pontiff answering this question: Who is Pope Francis: Radical reformer or ineffectual figurehead? https://www.irishtimes.com/...

  • 09:10
  • 10:01
    The pope has made it to Knock and is being greeted by school children there. Photograph: PA
    The pope has made it to Knock and is being greeted by school children there. Photograph: PA
  • 10:06
    I wish we could say the weather has improved in Knock . . . . but it hasn't. Strong demand for warm tea.
    I wish we could say the weather has improved in Knock . . . . but it hasn't. Strong demand for warm tea.
  • 10:17
    Pope Francis is now making his way up to Knock shrine in the popemobile. You'll be glad to know he's brought his jacket today - a lovely little double-breasted cream ensemble. He'll need it when he gets back to Dublin - it's lashing here. Knock seems to have gotten better weather. We'll get you some photos from Knock now - the place is reaching a crescendo with the trad music as we speak
  • 10:20
  • 10:21
    The Pope has now arrived outside Knock shrine and is about to enter the apparition chapel
  • 10:21
    The coat is off
  • 10:26
    He is now placing a bunch of flowers at the feet of the statue of Mary. Children Sean Burke and Molly Hunt have given the pope a taper to light a candle beside the statue and he is now taking a few minutes to himself for some silent prayer.
  • 10:28
  • 10:30
    We've just been told by RTE News that Pope Francis often falls asleep while he's praying. That's some top class multitasking.
  • 10:32
    There are 45,000 people outside Knock shrine today and at the moment there is total silence, aside from the swish of the flags in the wind. It is quite a peaceful scene.
  • 10:35
    Pope Francis will say the Angelus on the square in front of Knock Shrine shortly
  • 10:36
    He will first of all make a brief address - in Italian - to the people gathered here outside the shrine
  • 10:37
    "Good morning," he says, to cheers
  • 10:38
    "I am very happy to be here with you. I'm happy to be with you in the house of our lady....a place so dear to the Irish people"
  • 10:39
    "I know how important the tradition of the family rosary has been in this country. Carry on with this tradition."
  • 10:45
    The Pope has asked for God's forgiveness for the "open wound" of clerical abuse in Ireland as he called for "firm and decisive" action to secure "truth and justice".
  • 10:51
    We will have a full report on the pope's speech shortly. He is making his way back into the blue Skoda now and will travel back to knock airport in that
  • 10:53
    This is from our Religious Affairs Correspondent, Patsy McGarry:

    Pope Francis was applauded by people at Knock Shrine this morning when he returned to the theme of clerical child sex abuse issue.
    “None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred by painful memories,” he said.
    He continued that “this open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice. I beg the Lord’s forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in God’s family.
    "I ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for the healing of the survivors and to confirm every member of our Christian family in the resolve never again to permit these situations to occur.”
    He said that in his prayers at the Apparition Chapel a short time before “I presented to her in particular all the victims of abuse of whatever kind committed by members of the Church in Ireland.”
    In extending “a warm greeting to the beloved people of Northern Ireland” he said that “although my Journey for the World Meeting of Families does not include a visit to the North, I assure you of my affection and my closeness in prayer. I ask Our Lady to sustain all the members of the Irish family to persevere, as brothers and sisters, in the work of reconciliation.”
    As a remembrance of his visit he presented the Shrine with a golden rosary in recognition of how important the tradition of the family rosary has been in this country. In return he was give a statue of Our lady of Knock.
    He extended greetings to men and women in prison “especially those who wrote to me.” He assured them and their families “I am very close to you.”
  • 10:54
  • 10:56
  • 11:06
    The Pope's words on clerical abuse were stronger today than during his speech at Dublin castle yesterday. He spoke of "firm and decisive action" and a "pursuit of truth and justice". We will bring you reaction to and analysis on that as we have it.
  • 11:06
    Pope Francis now makes his way to Knock International Airport where he will fly back to Dublin for today's Phoenix Park mass. Road closures are really ramping up in the city now - we'll pop in some maps and transport information here now.
  • 11:19
  • 11:20
    They better take in those flags and roll up the windows or the pilot will be sitting on towels the whole way back to Dublin
  • 11:27
  • 11:30
    We are getting reports of more road closures in Dublin city than what had originally been announced. We are investigating this and will shortly have an updated report on traffic conditions. For now, you can find our previous report here.
  • 11:35
    Things are really ramping up now at the Phoenix Park, where the pope is due to say mass at 3pm. Our pope, Conor, is there and says the atmosphere is like "a really bad concert". There's no drink. It's lashing rain. The headline act is three hours away.  
  • 11:36
  • 11:50
  • 11:50
    Dublin city was full of people in rain jackets and carrying fold-up chairs this morning as I made my way into Tara Street. The rain has let up a small bit now.  
  • 11:53
    The pope signed a Mayo football jersey at Knock airport this morning, seemingly in an effort to lift the curse - you're about two months too late Francis. Talk about rubbing salt in the wounds.  
  • 11:54
  • 11:57

    A reminder that the Stand For Truth event is taking place at the Gardens of Remembrance at 2.30pm today.  

    The event is “for everyone who has been harmed or abused by the institutional Roman Catholic Church, or who wishes to stand in solidarity with those harmed by its actions,” a statement on behalf of its organisers said.

    Author  Marian Keyes, theatre maker,  Grace Dyas, poet  Sarah Clancy, singer Hozier and activist Colm O’Gorman will appear at the event.

  • 11:59
  • 12:01
  • 12:12

    For all the excitement and hustle and bustle of today, it is hard to underestimate the hurt this visit will cause the many victims of clerical abuse here in Ireland.

    Many of these people had their innocence stolen from them by the most powerful institution in the country. Many will have lived through the last papal visit, the one where John Paul II told them he loved them. They will have also seen the rippling aftershocks of the abuse of single mothers - the forced adoptions, the mass graves, the institutionalised women.

    Then, the cover-up, the denial and the lack of justice. So many of them will be hanging on Pope Francis' every word, hoping for some real, genuine remorse and plans for remediation. Others do not think he should be here at all. We keep those people in our thoughts today.  

  • 12:24
  • 12:44
  • 12:46
  • 12:50
  • 12:59

    Can you tell I'm scrambling for some live Pope content? While he's in the air, here's a round-up of some of our best pieces from the Papal visit so far:


    -  Pope tells survivors that those who cover up abuse are ‘caca’


    -  Miriam Lord: Zappone puts Tuam scandal to the fore during pontiff’s visit to Ireland


    -  Fintan O’Toole: This visit feels too much like a ceremonial procession


    -  Pope’s speech ‘an incredible missed opportunity’ says abuse survivor Colm O'Gorman


    - Patsy McGarry asks who is Pope Francis: Radical reformer or ineffectual figurehead?

  • 13:09

    Here is an updated traffic report just in from our reporter Sarah Burns:

    Widespread traffic restrictions are in place across the Dublin region as thousands of people descend upon the Phoenix Park for the Papal mass on Sunday afternoon.

    A large number of road closures are in place until 11pm including the Navan Road, routes alongside the Phoenix Park, roads in the Kylemore area and the quays in the city centre.
    A controlled access zone is in place between the city centre and the M50 (bordered by the Grand Canal to the south and stretching to Castleknock and Broombridge to the north), with gardai directing traffic.
    The Port Tunnel, Tom Clarke Bridge (East Link), the M50 and the M1 will be open all day; however cars will not be permitted to exit the M50 on the city side of Blanchardstown, J7 Lucan and J9 Red Cow.
    There is no access to Maynooth from J7 Maynooth on the M4 until 11.30pm on Sunday. All traffic will be diverted via J8 Kilcock and the Old N4 (R148).
    Dublin City Council has listed 86 road closures for Sunday with a further 18 posted by Fingal County Council. Roads in Inchicore, Chapelizod, Ashtown, Castleknock, parts of Clondalkin, Drimnagh, Cabra, the Strawberry Beds and Arbour Hill will be closed throughout the day.


    Knock
    AA Roadwatch said traffic is expected to get very heavy around Knock in Co Mayo as people are leaving the mass attended by Pope Francis earlier this morning.
    They said it is busy leaving Knock northbound on the Ballyhaunis/Kiltimagh Road (R323). Several road closures remain in place there, including the main road through Knock Village (R329) and the N17 between Charlestown and Claremorris. A number of roads just off the N17 are also closed, including a stretch of the N83.
    “It is extremely wet on routes across the country this morning,” AA Roadwatch said. “Slow down and increase the braking distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Leave yourself extra travel time.”

    Public transport
    There is no service between Blackhorse and Smithfield on the Red Luas line until 10pm. The Connolly stop is also closed until 10pm. The Green line will operate along the full line but the Phibsborough stop will be closed from 3pm to 10pm.
    Irish Rail intercity services cannot be boarded on Sunday unless you have already pre-booked your ticket. A special commuter timetable is in operation on Sunday with extra services on Northern, Maynooth and Portlaoise services.
    A number of Dublin Bus routes are diverted due to the road closures and passengers are advised to check their website for updates.
    Bus Eireann is operating additional services on certain routes while there are diversions to services to/from Dublin. There are also diversions to routes 64, 421 and 440 due to the papal visit to Knock.
    Public transport on Sunday is free for anyone travelling in the greater Dublin area with a ticket to the papal Mass.

  • 13:33
    In other breaking news today,  former top Vatican official  Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano accused  Pope Francis  of having known of allegations of sex abuse by a prominent US cardinal for five years before accepting his resignation last month and he called on the pontiff to resign.

    In an 11-page letter given to conservative Roman Catholic media outlets during the Pope’s visit to  Ireland,  Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano  said he had told Francis in 2013 that Cardinal Theodore McCarrick had faced extensive accusations of sexually abusing lower-ranking seminarians and priests.

    Vatican officials declined immediate comment on the letter on Sunday.

    You can read our full report on this here.  

  • 13:34
    <strong>From our journalist Peter Smyth: </strong><br />There was a brief flurry on the Navan Road when this posse of Garda outriders came down the Navan Road from the Papal Nunciature at 12.45pm, but no sign of the pope himself. Suspicion was that he was travelling via the Ratoath Road entrance. <p>  </p> <p>There is a steady drizzle in this spot a short distance from the Phoenix Park, accompanied at times with a cool breeze. People are making their way to the park but there's no sign of crowds just yet.  </p>
    From our journalist Peter Smyth:
    There was a brief flurry on the Navan Road when this posse of Garda outriders came down the Navan Road from the Papal Nunciature at 12.45pm, but no sign of the pope himself. Suspicion was that he was travelling via the Ratoath Road entrance.

     

    There is a steady drizzle in this spot a short distance from the Phoenix Park, accompanied at times with a cool breeze. People are making their way to the park but there's no sign of crowds just yet.  

  • 13:47

    The victims of clerical abuse who met with Pope Francis yesterday have spoken about their time with him.
    He was “taken aback” and “shocked” upon hearing about mother and baby homes and had “no idea” what a Magdalene laundry was, according to one of the survivors present.
    The pontiff met with eight survivors of clerical abuse in Ireland and people who spent time in industrial schools, seminaries and mother-and-baby-homes, in the Papal Nuncio’s residence on the Navan Road on Saturday for around 90 minutes.
    Among the survivors present were Paul Redmond and Clodagh Malone, who were born in Mother and Baby homes and have campaigned for justice for mothers who were forced by such institutions to give up their children for adoption.
    “Clodagh explained to him that the nuns in Ireland who ran the mother and baby homes had put a lot of pressure on women never to look for their children after they lost them and told them all sorts of lies, that it was a mortal sin, they’d burn in hell, it was illegal...He was quite taken aback by that, shocked,” Mr Redmond told RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday.
    “We asked him would he say something at the mass today to lift that burden so to speak off elderly members of our community, who have been suffering in silence for generations, particularly down the country where they have quite often been isolated and he agreed to do that. It was a huge boost to us.”
    Mr Redmond said Pope Francis “listened very well” to the survivors but “had no idea” what exactly a Magdalene laundry was.
    “He literally had no idea. It ended up with me giving him a three or four minute crash course through his translator as to the institutions of Ireland,” Mr Redmond added.

    - From Sarah Burns

  • 13:48
  • 13:54
    Our reporter Jack Power has been speaking to some of the people gathered at the Phoenix Park.<br /> <p>This is Fr Francis O’Brien, (54)  Ballymoney, Co Antrim:  </p> <p>'I was here in 1979 when Pope John Paul II came, I was 16 at the time and he arrived on my birthday. I believe Pope Francis is a very charismatic, energetic Pope. It’s great to see the very many people here, it keeps the church alive, its very much needed at this particular time.'</p>
    Our reporter Jack Power has been speaking to some of the people gathered at the Phoenix Park.

    This is Fr Francis O’Brien, (54)  Ballymoney, Co Antrim:  

    "I was here in 1979 when Pope John Paul II came, I was 16 at the time and he arrived on my birthday. I believe Pope Francis is a very charismatic, energetic Pope. It’s great to see the very many people here, it keeps the church alive, its very much needed at this particular time."

  • 13:57
    <p><strong>Lucy Kelly (21), from Belfast:</strong></p> <p>'I came out to see the Pope, I think it’s a great celebration of faith and family, it’s a great opportunity for Ireland, its a once in a lifetime opportunity, I’ve come out to see what the head of the Catholic Church has to say, and the wisdom he’ll give to young people.'</p>

    Lucy Kelly (21), from Belfast:

    "I came out to see the Pope, I think it’s a great celebration of faith and family, it’s a great opportunity for Ireland, its a once in a lifetime opportunity, I’ve come out to see what the head of the Catholic Church has to say, and the wisdom he’ll give to young people."

  • 13:59
    <p>Biju Joseph (40), living in Belfast:</p> <p>'I’m from Belfast for eight years, I’m [originally] from south India. I seen the Pope John Paul II back in 1986 [in India], so I always want to see the Pope. So I’ve got a chance, as he’s coming close, to Dublin, so I decided to come.'</p>

    Biju Joseph (40), living in Belfast:

    "I’m from Belfast for eight years, I’m [originally] from south India. I seen the Pope John Paul II back in 1986 [in India], so I always want to see the Pope. So I’ve got a chance, as he’s coming close, to Dublin, so I decided to come."

  • 14:07
  • 14:19

    More from our journalist Peter Smyth, who is holed on the Navan Road:

    Significant lift in weather here in last ten minutes. Plenty of noise carrying across to Navan Rd from Phoenix Park. It is brightening up a lot here, and it feels warmer.

    There are more garda outriders going up and down from the Nunciature than you can shake a stick at.  

  • 14:19
  • 14:21

    A large crowd has gathered for a silent vigil in Co Galway to coincide with the Papal mass in Dublin.

    The vigil, which has been organised by a Manchester woman whose sister vanished from a mother and baby home, is taking place in Tuam.

    Over 100 people have assembled at the Town Hall and plan to walk the 30-minute route to the former site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home.

    -PA

  • 14:22
  • 14:24

    The rain has started to come down in buckets again, the Taoiseach is wearing a plastic poncho but President Michael D is braving it in just the suit.  

  • 14:29
    This is just in from Peter Smyth - it looks like the Pope is on his way down the Navan Road
    This is just in from Peter Smyth - it looks like the Pope is on his way down the Navan Road
  • 14:30
    There's the man himself now, back on the popemobile in the Phoenix Park
  • 14:31

    From Conor Pope:  

    Pope Francis has arrived at the Park and the crowd have been asked to get into their corrals ahead of the Popemobile’s arrival.

  • 14:32
  • 14:32
  • 14:40
  • 14:40
    He has forgotten the coat. Not a great start.  
  • 14:43
    Beautiful hymns are being played by the choir at the Phoenix Park.  
  • 14:45
    Meanwhile, crowds are gathering at the Stand for Truth event at the Garden of Remembrance, where people are standing in solidarity with clerical abuse victims.  
  • 14:45
  • 14:48
  • 14:50
    I'm no professional people counter, but the park doesnt even look half full from the aerial shots
  • 14:53
    An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin before Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
    An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin before Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
  • 15:02
    People attend a vigil at the site of the Tuam babies graveyard where the bodies of 796 babies were uncovered at a site of a former catholic home for unmarried mothers and their children. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
    People attend a vigil at the site of the Tuam babies graveyard where the bodies of 796 babies were uncovered at a site of a former catholic home for unmarried mothers and their children. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
  • 15:09
    The altar is filling up now and it looks like the mass is just about to start.
  • 15:11
    Pope Francis and the rest of those celebrating mass are wearing vestments specially designed for the papal visit. They are green and  feature the triple spiral, a pre-Christian  Celtic  symbol found on Neolithic monuments across the island.
  • 15:15
    A child points at a list of babies' names at the site of the Tuam babies graveyard where the bodies of 796 babies where uncovered at a site of a former catholic home for unmarried mothers and their children, during a vigil in Tuam, Ireland. Photograph: Dylan Martinez
/Reuters
    A child points at a list of babies' names at the site of the Tuam babies graveyard where the bodies of 796 babies where uncovered at a site of a former catholic home for unmarried mothers and their children, during a vigil in Tuam, Ireland. Photograph: Dylan Martinez
/Reuters
  • 15:20
    "We ask for forgiveness for the times that the church did not show compassion to the survivors of abuse"
  • 15:23

    He has asked for forgiveness for "all those times mothers were told not to seek out children who were separated from them and who were told this is a mortal sin".

    "This is not a mortal sin," the Pope says.  

    There was applause from the crowd for this line, as it was something which survivors specifically asked the Pope to say during their meeting with him yesterday.  

  • 15:27
  • 15:30
  • 15:40
  • 15:49

    Our reporter Jack Power was at the Phoenix Park mass:  

    Pope Francis has addressed crowds in the Phoenix Park and asked for forgiveness for the abuses perpetrated by the Catholic Church in Ireland, by clergy and those in religious institutions.

    Pope Francis told the tens of thousands gathered that he asked for forgiveness for “the abuses in Ireland, abuses of power, conscience, and sexual abuse perpetrated by those with roles of responsibility in the church.”

    “We ask for forgiveness for those places of exploitation of manual work, that so many young women and men were subjected to,” he told the crowd. “In a special way we ask pardon for all the abuses committed in various types of institutions run by male or female religious, and by other members of the Church,” he said.

    Following his comments the crowd broke into applause. Pope Francis, wearing a green vestment and speaking at the stage set up under the papal cross, said: “we ask forgiveness for some members of the Church hierarchy, who did not take charge of these painful situations and kept quiet.”

    “We ask forgiveness, for the time that as a Church we did not show the survivors of whatever kind of abuse compassion, in the seeking justice and truth, and concrete actions,” he said.

    “We ask for forgiveness for all those single mothers who were told that to seek their children that had been separated from them … that this was a mortal sin, this is not a mortal sin,” Pope Francis said.

    Shortly after 2pm Pope Francis arrived in Phoenix Park, riding in the popemobile he waved as he was driven around crowds gathering in the park. The crowds greeting him were a flurry of coloured ponchos and yellow and white papal flags.

    Organisers said they expected 500,000 people to attend the mass, however numbers appeared to be significantly lower, in part perhaps due to the poor weather on the day.

     

  • 16:01
    Someone has just appeared on the altar wearing a pink Love Both jumper - the campaign attire of the No side during the abortion referendum.  
  • 16:04
    Just a reminder that that referendum was won by a margin of 66% to 34%, legalising abortion  within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy without restriction.  
  • 16:06
    Emma Mhic Mhathuna - a victim of the CervicalCheck scandal - is at the Phoenix Park altar with her children.
  • 16:24
    Here is a photograph from the mass of Pope John Paul II in the Phoenix Park in 1979
    Here is a photograph from the mass of Pope John Paul II in the Phoenix Park in 1979
  • 16:27

    Meanwhile thousands of people have turned out in Dublin City centre for a protest over the church’s handling of clerical abuse, just a few kilometres from Phoenix Park where Pope Francis is celebrating Mass.

    The Stand For Truth rally at the Garden of Remembrance began at 3pm, the same time as the pontiff’s Mass.

    Thousands are standing before a mobile stage filling Parnell Square East. Some are holding banners which read “Secular Justice For All, Truth Justice Love and Church Without Abuse”.

    An organiser said the turnout had surpassed his expectations, and thanked those in attendance.

    A number of artists will perform music and poetry at the event. One of those speaking from the platform, Sarah Clancy, told the gathered audience “we have a right to be angry”, to rousing cheers.


    - PA

  • 16:28
  • 16:43
    The next World Meeting of Families will be held in Rome in 2021.
  • 16:49
    Our reporter Lorna Siggins found this gem on her travels in Knock today. It is a t-shirt that is being sold by Forde's draper in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.  
    Our reporter Lorna Siggins found this gem on her travels in Knock today. It is a t-shirt that is being sold by Forde's draper in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.  
  • 16:57
    Pope Francis has another meeting now with the bishops in the Convent of the Dominican Sister in Cabra, so he will be leaving the Phoenix Park shortly.  
  • 16:58
  • 17:00
  • 17:12
  • 17:20

    Pope Francis was “taken aback” and “shocked” upon hearing about Mother and Baby homes during a meeting in Dublin with abuse survivors on Saturday and had “no idea” what a Magdalene laundry was, according to one of the survivors present.

    Another survivor present, Marie Collins, who resigned from the Vatican’s Commission for the Protection of Minors last year, said on Sunday it was a meeting “that did have positives to it”.

    She said she raised issues surrounding accountability in the Church and safeguarding measures for children and specifically asked Pope Francis why the church is continuing its practice of allowing disgraced church leaders resign instead of being fired.

    “I made the point to him that they’re allowed to resign which means that there’s no outward sign of any finding of guilt against them and if they are found guilty in some sort of church tribunal, that they should be made known and he agreed, that it should be more transparent,” she said.

    -Sarah Burns

  • 17:42
  • 17:44
  • 19:49
    Thank you for following our live coverage this weekend of the pope's visit to Ireland. We will have further news and analysis into the evening here on irishtimes.com as well as tomorrow online and in print.