Commemorating Pope John Paul II's 1979 pilgrimage to Ireland

To commemorate the pilgrimage to Ireland of the late Pope John Paul II thirty years ago this month, the addresses and homilies of Pope John Paul II are now available on a special web feature on www.catholicbishops.ie

This feature includes:
 
- A video reflection by Bishop Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, who was part of the original organising committee for Pope John Paul II's 1979 pilgrimage to Ireland. Bishop Smith reflects on the life of John Paul II, his rapport with young people, the changes in the faith landscape of Ireland, the beatification process of John Paul II, Bishop Smith's own memories of the visit and the background to John Paul II being unable to visit the North of Ireland as part of his pilgrimage.

- Audio recordings: of the Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in the Phoenix Park, Dublin and his homily in Drogheda on 29 September 1979; of the homilies from the Masses celebrated in Knock and Galway on 30 September 1979; of Pope John Paul's address to clergy and religious in Maynooth and of his homily in Limerick on 1 October 1979.

- The publication The Pope in Ireland - Addresses and Homilies which includes the text versions of the above homilies as well as Pope John Paul II's address on his arrival at Dublin airport, to the President of Ireland, to the Diplomatic Corps, to the Government of Ireland, to the visiting Bishops, to the Ecumenical Meeting; to journalists, to the sick, at Clonmacnois, to the Bishops of Ireland and upon his departure from Shannon.

- Photographs recording the highlights of the three-day pilgrimage in Ireland in 1979.
 
Source: Irish Catholic Media Office