Saturday, August 25, 2018

Welcome to Ireland

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father, Pope Francis, which departed this morning from Rome at 8:30am local time (2:30am EDT), landed at 10:25am (5:25am EDT) at the Dublin International Airport.


Upon his arrival, the Pope was welcomed by the Vice President, Simon Coveney, and by two children who offered the Holy Father gifts of flowers.  Also present were Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life; His Excellency, Seán Baptis Brady, Archbishop emeritus of Armagh; His Excellency, Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of all Ireland and President of the Irish Episcopal Conference; His Excellency, Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin; His Excellency, Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam; His Excellency, Kieran O'Reily, SMA, Archbishop of Cashel ad Emly; His Grace, Michael Jackson, Anglican Archbishop of Dublin; and a family.



Following the conclusion of the official welcome, the Pope travelled to Áras an Uachtaráin, the residence of the Irish President, situated in Phoenix Park, north of Dublin.


Upon his arrival at the residence of the President of Ireland, at 11:20am local time (6:20am EDT), Pope Francis was welcomed at the main entrance to the residence by the President of the Republic of Ireland, Michael Higgins and his wife.  There followed a welcoming ceremony which included the national anthems and the presentation of military honours.

 At 11:30am local time, in the State Appointment Room, the Holy Father signed the Book of Honour and the members of the respective delegations were introduced to one another.

The Holy Father and the President then went to the old Reception Room where they met privately for approximately 15 minutes before the Holy Father was introduced to the other members of the President's family.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the President accompanied the Pope to the garden outside the Residence, where the Holy Father planted a tree.

Finally, Pope Francis left the Presidential Residence and travelled to Dublin Castle where he met with Authorities, members of civil society and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

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