Pope Francis to visit Ireland

Pope Francis will make the first Papal visit to Ireland in almost four decades for the World Meeting of Families, it has been announced.

He will take part in the ‘Festival of Families’ in Croke Park on August 25, while the following day, August 26, he will celebrate Mass in the Phoenix Park.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has welcomed the announcement. "On behalf of the Government, I welcome the announcement by Pope Francis of his intention to come to Ireland in August for the World Meeting of Families. I look forward to meeting him during his visit,” he said. 
While it is not a formal State Visit, it will be a major event for Ireland, with a high degree of public participation and a high international profile.