Irish priest who saved the lives of thousands of Jews in Rome during WWII

Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty in Rome. Courtesy Marie Lalor archive

Source: Irish Times

'God has no country': The Irish Schindler's story is one of humanity against oppression.

As Ireland gets out the papal bunting for Pope Francis, he will touch down in a Catholic country vastly different from the one where his predecessor John Paul 11 kissed the tarmac. Patricia Murphy writes in the Irish Times.

The results of the abortion referendum and the yes vote for gay marriage show that Ireland is clearly less deferential to the decrees of Rome than the one where 1.25 million flocked to the Phoenix Park for a papal Mass.

Indeed, in the last 40 years the church has suffered a spectacular fall from grace with revelations about abuse and then cover-ups of heartbreaking scandals, from the Magdalene laundries to the Tuam babies. Controversy over the "virus of misogyny" and the teaching of religion in schools challenge the power of religious institutions in a modern society. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has been outspoken about how the pope's visit comes at a time of crisis "as the Church in Ireland struggles to find a new place in Irish society and culture".

Perhaps one place to start would be by demonstrating and celebrating uncompromising compassion. One wonders, for example, how much Pope Francis knows about the heroism of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, another maverick cleric with the common touch who was perhaps the most remarkable Irishman to ever serve at the Vatican.

To read on, see: www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/msgr-hugh-o-flaherty-the-most-remarkable-irish-cleric-you-ve-never-heard-of-1.3604096

Leo's War: Ireland's Secret World War 2 Hero by Patricia Murphy is published by Poolbeg