HILL PAPA:
Pontiff wows 82,000 faithful at home of GAA Pilgrims treated to festival of music and dance
THE hallowed turf of Croke Park played host to a festival of music and dance for the loyal and faithful of Catholic Ireland and beyond last night.
Thousands came from overseas to see Pope Francis preside over the closing ceremony of the World Meeting Of Families in Dublin.
Pilgrims flew in from far and wide to join in the party, with the Irish Mirror meeting Catholics from diverse backgrounds who came to pray together.
They included a couple who first met at the last papal visit in 1979 and were last night celebrating having both just retired.
Pope Francis delivered an address and heard five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, India, Iraq, and Africa about the importance of family in the modern age.
But a bit like the nervous wait for precious All-ireland hurling tickets last Sunday, the faithful were rewarded and got their passes to the spectacular shindig.
The talent on display for the 82,000 who filled the stands and pitch of Croke Park was outstanding.
It ranged from actor-turned-singer Patrick Bergin crooning Leonard Cohen classic Anthem, to Daniel O’donnell having people swaying, crowd-pleaser Nathan Carter getting the crowd on their feet, to the Riverdance troupe.
But the highlight of the night was the wondrous Andrea Bocelli, accompanied by soprano Celine Byrne first for a rendition of Ave Maria, before closing the event with the classic Nessun Dorma.
Dubliners and parents to nine children Mary and Damien Richardson were among those who got to speak on stage.
Dad Damien said: “Pope Francis, thank you for listening to our story. Even though we were addicted to drugs, love and faith gave us strength as a married couple to take a better path.”
Missy Collins also addressed the gathering and said the Traveller community “are a people who have experienced injustice and
persecution and are forced onto the margins of society”.
The High Hopes Choir performed Kodaline’s song of the same title.
Pope Francis arrived on to the stage to rapturous applause that might normally be associated with a rock’n’roll superstar.
The selection of themes throughout the night reflected the priorities in his ministry, including homelessness, refugees and care for our common home.
In his speech to the converted, the pontiff spoke of the loving family and how important it is to the Catholic Church.
He said: “God wants every family to be a be a beacon of the joy of his love in our world. “What does this mean? “It means that we, who have encountered God’s saving love, try, with or without words, to express it in little acts of kindness in our daily routine and in the most hidden moments of our day.”
In his concluding remarks he highlighted the importance of maintaining the family unit to the Catholic Church.
The pontiff added: “I know it is late and you are tired, but let me say one last thing to you, as families, you are the hope of the Church and the world.
“God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit created mankind in his image to share in his love, to be a family of families and to enjoy the peace that he alone can give.
“By your witness to the Gospel you can help God’s dream come true.”
Noelle and Odran Higgins met at the famous Youth Mass held in Ballybrit racecourse in Galway in 1979.
Now, 39 years later the couple have just retired and are enjoying their second time seeing a pontiff. Noelle said: “We crossed paths at the Pope in Galway, we started nursing the next day.
“We both retired this year and we want to see the Papa again.”
Mother and daughter Delphine and Justine Coulon were over from Switzerland for the event, with the teenager
having studied English here this summer. Rita Coyne from Dublin watched the show along with her friend Mary Byrne, and said she was uplifted by the amount of young people involved. “It’s brilliant, it’s very different, it’s very beautiful, so different from what I expected, I found it very joyful. “The young people involved, the colours and the dancers have been super.” Nuns from the Sisters of Nazareth, Sister Francis Kelly and Sister Celine came to Ireland for the World Meeting Of Families and said the concert was the perfect end to a fantastic week. One said: “We really enjoyed Nathan Carter, he was excellent. The event has really brought people together.” news@irishmirror.ie