Pope will visit Knock in August
POPE Francis will visit Knock Shrine as part of his two day Irish visit this August.
Pope Francis will arrive into Ireland West Airport on a specially chartered Aer Lingus flight from Dublin on Sunday morning August 26 th and travel by motorcade the 20-kilometre route along the N17 to Knock shrine.
During his time in Knock Pope Francis will visit the Apparition Chapel and give the Angelus address in the grounds of the Shrine.
The pontiff ’s trip to Knock is part of his pastoral visit to Dublin for the World Meeting of Families which is taking place from 21 – 26 August on the theme ‘ The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World’.
Following his visit to the Shrine he will return to Dublin from Ireland West Airport later that morning.
It was following the first ever Papal visit to Ireland in 1979, when Pope John Paul II visited Knock Marian Shrine, that Monsignor Horan began his campaign to build an international airport in Mayo close to the Shrine.
“Thirty eight years later the airport is now the fourth busiest in the country and with record passenger numbers of close to 800,000 expected this year it’s a fitting tribute to his legacy that the airport will welcome Pope Francis this year..
Speaking ahead of the historic visit, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director of Ireland West Airport said: “It will be both an honour and a privilege to welcome Pope Francis in August for what will be an historic first papal visit to the airport and the realisation of the vision of the airport founder Monsignor Horan.
“This will be a truly historic occasion and will showcase the airport, Knock Shrine and indeed the West of Ireland to a global audience of mil- lions which will have a hugely positive impact for tourism to the region.
“I’d also like to recognize the hard work of Fr Richard Gibbons and his team in Knock who have worked tirelessly over the last number of months to make this happen and all at the airport looks forward to a great occasion in August.”
The Rector of Knock Shrine, Fr Gibbons said: “It is an honour to welcome Pope Francis to Knock Shrine on behalf of our pilgrims, parishioners and staff.
“We are humbled that the Holy Father will come to spend time with us in Knock to pray for families.
“Preparations are underway to make the visit of Pope Francis a wonderful moment of prayer for families across Ireland and across the world. We look forward to sharing the unique message of Knock with visitors from home and abroad.
“His Holiness has great devotion to Our Lady and also St Joseph, as represented on his Papal Coat of Arms.
“It is fitting that he should visit Knock, where an Apparition of Our Lady, St Joseph, St John and the Lamb of God was witnessed on 21st August 1879.
“St John Paul II visited the Shrine to celebrate the centenary of the Apparition in 1979.
“We are delighted that Pope Francis will fly into Ireland West Airport Knock to begin his pilgrimage to the Shrine.
“Monsignor Horan, who was so instrumental in the development of the airport would be very proud to see this day.”
The Pope is due to arrive in Ireland West Airport at 9.20am and Knock Shrine at 9.45am with departure to the airport at 10:45. He is due to say Mass in the Phoenix Park at 3pm.