Presbyterian leader to attend Pope's Irish visit events
- Published
Pope Francis arrives in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday 25 August for a two-day visit to the country
The head of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has accepted an invitation to two events that will be attended by Pope Francis in Dublin next week.
The Reverend Charles McMullen said he hoped the visit would help to build good relations between the Churches.
The Pope arrives in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday 25 August for a two-day visit to the country.
The head of Ireland's Catholic Church said the Pope was likely to meet clerical sex-abuse victims in Ireland.
Since the last papal visit in 1979 by Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Church in Ireland has been engulfed in scandal with revelations about the widespread clerical sexual abuse of children and cover-ups.
On Thursday, the Vatican said Pope Francis was on the side of victims of more than 300 "predator" priests in the United States accused of abusing children in the state of Pennsylvania.
It said the Church wanted to listen to the victims to "root out this tragic horror".
'Building relations'
The Pope is visiting the Republic of Ireland for the culmination of the week-long World Meeting of Families.
His 36-hour stay will include events at Croke Park and Dublin Castle, a visit to Knock Shrine in County Mayo and a closing Mass at Phoenix Park that is expected to attract 500,000 people.
Many people in Ireland are excited about the Pope's visit, Dr Charles McMullen said
The Presbyterian Church moderator Dr McMullan said he was "very pleased" to accept an invitation to attend the events at Dublin Castle and Croke Park.
"As a Church we recognised that [the papal visit] would be something that would bring great joy to our Roman Catholic neighbours and friends and as such it was something that we wanted to welcome," he said.
"Should there be an opportunity to meet Pope Francis in Dublin Castle I would also very much welcome that in the context of building good relations."
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, the clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Rev Trevor Gribben, acknowledged the move may cause "difficulties" for some of its members.
"Some feel that because of major theological differences that a meeting causes confusion," he said.
Archbishop Eamon Martin says other churches' reactions to the visit show "huge progress"
"We've major problems with some Catholic doctrines - nonetheless, for the sake of building good relationships on a cross-community basis, to reach out the hand of friendship, there was overwhelming support of that."
He added: "I think that the Church, at this stage in our society, felt that there would be greater confusion caused if the moderator wasn't willing to be present at the state reception for Pope Francis."
'Made huge progress'
The leaders of other Protestant churches have also been invited.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, has been encouraged by their response to the Papal visit.
"It was wonderful that the leaders of the other Christian churches have stepped up to welcome the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland and would dearly love him to come to Northern Ireland as well," he said.
"That shows that we have made huge progress."
Papal visit to Ireland: Itinerary highlights
Saturday 25 August
08:15 - Departure by plane from Rome for Dublin
10:30 - Arrival at Dublin Airport for official welcome
10:45 - Transfer to Áras an Uachtaráin (Irish president's residence)
11:15 - Welcome ceremony with President Michael D. Higgins
12:10 - Arrival at Dublin Castle for meeting with authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps
15:30 - Visit to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral
16:30 - Private visit to the Capuchin Day Centre, a centre for homeless people
19:45 - Preside at the Festival of Families at Croke Park stadium
Sunday 26 August
08:40 - Departure by plane for Knock
09:45 - Arrival at Knock Shrine for visit to the Apparition Chapel and recitation of the Angelus
11:15 - Departure by plane for Dublin
12:30 - Lunch with the Papal Delegation
15:00 - Closing Papal Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Phoenix Park followed by a meeting with the Irish bishops
18:30 - Farewell ceremony at Dublin Airport
18:45 - Departure by plane for Rome
23:00 - Arrival in Rome
- Published20 August 2018
- Published20 August 2018
