Time will tell if ‘new relationship’ works like it did for queen

AS POPE Francis boarded his Aer Lingus A321 flight out of Dublin along with 125 Vatican officials, security staff and journalists, there was a massive sigh of relief in political circles.

When Enda Kenny travelled to Rome to invite Pope Francis here nearly two years ago, few would have predicted exactly what that would entail.

A classic case of it seemed like a nice idea at the time.

Nobody could have predicted that a grand jury in Pennsylvania would deliver such a devastating assessment of the Catholic hierarchy just days before the visit.

But the potential for such revelations was always high when dealing with the Church. This country has a better idea than most.

As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar remarked in Dublin Castle: “In recent weeks, we have all listened to heart-breaking stories from Pennsylvania of brutal crimes perpetrated by people within the Catholic Church, and then obscured to protect the institution at the expense of innocent victims. It is a story all too tragically familiar here in Ireland.”

The diplomatic effort to make the Pope welcome, allow protests take place and ensure Catholics did not feel ostracised was immense.

Who would imagine a few years ago that a visit by the Pope would be more diplomatically difficult than the arrival of the head of the British monarchy?

Queen Elizabeth’s visit in 2011 is the only comparable event in recent history in terms of dividing public opinion.

Back then, officials were hugely nervous about the potential for riots on the streets or that her presence would reopen scars that were healing with the natural passing of time.

In fact, it resulted in a ‘new relationship’ that allowed old wounds be respected while looking to the future.

The abiding images were of schoolchildren waving Union Jacks and the queen laughing heartily with fishmonger Pat O’Connell at the English Market in Cork.

A palace spokesperson said afterwards that the mood in the royal household was “very buoyant”.

“The visit will be in the queen’s mind for a very long time when she returns home,” they said.

“Everybody in the household has been overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome. It’s been an extraordinary visit.’’

Perhaps trying to replicate the script from that visit, Leo Varadkar suggested the Vatican might also be interested in “a new covenant for the 21st century”.

Only time will tell whether that can be achieved, though. No doubt Pope Francis made strong efforts to kick-start some sort of renewal for his Church internationally and in this country.

His Phoenix Park speech was a direct result of 90 minutes with victims of a variety of abuses at Catholic institutions. That will be the lasting image from the pontiff’s tour.

At the steps, the Taoiseach thanked Pope Francis for his visit and, according to one official, wished him “godspeed”. In return, the pontiff offered his prayers to the Taoiseach.

A gap of 39 years was bridged – but it will take some time before we are able to see what’s on the other side.