WMoF 2018 and the Visit of Pope Francis to Ireland

The World Meeting of Families (WMoF)2018 which took place in Dublin from August 22 to 25, and the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland at that time was a touching experience for Catholics in Ireland and for many others too. The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) hosted many of the events associated with the WMoF 2018 and was a very happy place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that week. People of every age enjoyed being there and expressing their faith with enthusiasm. There was a place to celebrate everyone: our home family, our school family, our parish family, our world family!

The ‘Godly Play’ area was captivating. Many congratulations to our colleague Dr. Cora O’Farrell who led the way. Whatever one might have been looking for, books from Veritas, opportunities to talk, a little singing and dancing, digitally enhanced experiences of faith, or a new set of vestments, everything seemed possible.

The arrival of Pope Francis recalled for many the visit of Pope Saint John Paul II in 1979. Pope Francis met with the President of Ireland and addressed a large gathering of state leaders and dignitaries. His meeting with a representative group of the survivors of sexual and other forms of abuse was well received. His conversation with the homeless at Brother Kevin’s Capuchin Day Centre was another highlight. The concluding ceremony for WMoF 2018, the Festival of Families, in Croke Park came alive to the presence of Pope Francis. As families told their stories, the family from the Travelling Community captured everyone’s hearts. There was a great sense of joy, with so many entertainers leading people in expressing faith, hope and love.

On Sunday 26 August, after a touching visit to the national Marian shrine at Knock, Pope Francis caught everyone’s attention with an extraordinary penitential rite at the beginning of the Mass in the Phoenix Park. He spoke deeply of his remorse for any abusive actions entered into by leaders of the Catholic community, be they bishops, priests or religious, and asked for forgiveness. It rained on and off all day but the atmosphere was electric and everyone seemed content to be there and to applaud the Pope’s words and sentiment.

In his final address to the Conference of Bishops before he returned to Rome, Pope Francis drew attention to the need for the effective preparation of teachers for young people, and also of the urgency with which the Catholic community should engage in setting up initiatives in adult religious education.

The Catholic community in Ireland can take heart from the positive manner in which Pope Francis engaged with the issues of our day and encouraged a contemporary sense of what the Church can be, addressing the needs of all, especially the most poor and vulnerable.