Pope hopes to visit Ireland 'if conditions right'

Pope Benedict XVI has told the Catholic primate, Cardinal Seán Brady, that he hopes to visit Ireland. Speaking at Dublin airport yesterday, the new cardinal said he invited the Pope "to complete the pastoral visit of Pope John Paul to Ireland and in that way consolidate the peace process", when they met last Monday. The pope replied "I hope so", he said.

The cardinal did point out yesterday, though, that "conditions would have to be right" for a visit to take place. Further, the pope was over 80, he said, and already had two major trips planned for 2008, to the US and Australia.

Cardinal Brady was welcomed home at the airport by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, following weekend ceremonies that saw him elevated to the College of Cardinals in Rome. Afterwards, the cardinal attended a liturgical reception in the airport chapel which was attended by representative of the main churches in Ireland.

Welcoming him on behalf of the Government, Mr Ahern described the cardinal as "a very strong and powerful advocate of peace and reconciliation" who had been "enormously helpful" to the peace process.

He also commended Cardinal Brady for his comments on social trends in recent "reflective analysis of the modern age. I very much admire how he set that out." Each of them dealt with those changes "in our own way", he said. Cardinal Brady's "wide and vast experience would be a huge help and support across the whole island" as it progressed in a peaceful way, he said.

The cardinal thanked the Taoiseach for his welcome and for the "very high-level delegation" sent to represent Ireland at the consistory in Rome. He mentioned President Mary McAleese, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, Noel Grealish TD, and Senator Deirdre de Búrca. He spoke of "the wonderful help" he received from Noel Fahey, Irish Ambassador to the Holy See, "ably abetted by Seán Ó hUiginn", Ireland's Ambassador to Italy.

He also complimented Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward and minister Paul Goggins for attending the consistory. Addressing the Taoiseach, he said: "I am sure you are as gratified as I am they could be there." He was grateful to Mr Ahern for his role in helping bring that situation about.

At the airport chapel Cardinal Brady was welcomed by the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Diarmuid Martin, papal nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev John Neill.

Also there to greet him was Rev Dr Trevor Morrow, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church; Rev Dudley Levistone Cooney of the Methodist Church; Fr Tom Carroll of the Greek Orthodox Church; Fr Calin Florea of the Romanian Orthodox Church; Fr Athanasius George of the Coptic Orthodox Church; Maj David Johnson of the Salvation Army; and Rev Pastor Corinna Diestelkamp of the Lutheran Church.

The auxiliary bishops of the Dublin Catholic archdiocese, Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Bishop Ray Field, Bishop Fiachra Ó Ceallaigh and retired auxiliary bishop Dermot O'Mahony also attended. Other participants included children from St Colmcille's national school in Swords.

Welcoming everybody to "this little oasis of prayer in the hustle and bustle of the airport", Archbishop Martin said the presence of representatives of so many churches was "a gesture of the strength of faith in his community". Archbishop Neill prayed "for an end to all division among those who believe in Christ".

Expressing his delight at the presence of "my friends, representatives of the other churches", Cardinal Brady said he had told the pope of the many good wishes he had received from other churches since it was announced he was to be made a cardinal. Pope Benedict was "very pleased and asked me to convey his good wishes, as I do today", he said.

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times