Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Pope WILL meet abuse victims
Survivors of institutions part of itinerary for Pontiff No plans for Northern Ireland during 2-day trip
VICTIMS of abuse at hellhole institutions will meet Pope Francis during his visit here, top clerics have predicted.
Details of the Pontiff ’s £22million, two-day trip to the Republic on August 25 and 26 were unveiled yesterday – but he will not be venturing across the border into Northern Ireland.
Instead, hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful will turn out to greet him at Knock in Co Mayo and in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
Archbishop Eamon Martin said he is disappointed the Pope is not visiting Northern Ireland as the itinerary along with plans for the World Meeting of Families were announced.
He said: “I don’t get any sense from those I have been speaking to that the Holy Father is ruling out the possibility of ever coming to Northern Ireland.
“I think there will have to be a specific visit and I hope it will be soon.”
As part of his trip, the Pope will be flown to Co Mayo for a visit to the Chapel of Knock Shrine.
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said victims and survivors of clerical abuse meeting the Pope are high on the list of priorities.
Speaking at the launch of the schedule in Maynooth, Co Kildare, Dr Martin said: “The Pope will meet with various groups.
“In other visits across the world he has met with survivors. Generally speaking, he has met them quietly to respect their anonymity and we’d be looking at the way that can be done.
“There are a wide range of people who are survivors of institutions, of abuse by priests, and of mother and baby homes. We’d find a way which the Pope can address concerns of all of those people but we have many meetings.
“I get five letters a day from people wanting to meet the Pope and
certainly victims and survivors are high on the list of priorities. It’s a challenge for all of us.”
The bill for the visit will be paid for by fundraising, the Catholic Church and the Irish Government.
Dr Martin also said child abuse is one of the “horrific realities” of the Church in Ireland.
He added: “It’s been traumatic for anyone who has experienced that and that trauma has rippled through and destroyed so many people around them and their family life.
“I hope we will have a sense of direction in moving forward and how to reach out to those who are suffering in this way and in other ways in the Church.”
Dr Martin was also asked whether members of the LGBT community can volunteer at the festival. He said: “I’ve absolutely no idea that people will be asked their sexual orientation when becoming a volunteer but I imagine all those visiting, as visitors, as participants, we don’t necessarily reveal our sexuality when we’re coming along to any event.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described the Pope’s visit as significant.
He said: “I look forward to welcoming Pope Francis to Ireland this August.
“This will be a significant visit by a global and spiritual leader to Ireland and is the first visit of a pontiff here in almost 40 years.
“This is also an opportunity to showcase Ireland as images of this visit will be viewed around the globe.”