Pope looks set to visit Ireland in 2018

Below is the text of the speech, as provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vatican.

I also thank the families who shared their witness during the Meeting. It is always a gift to listen to families share their life experiences; it touches our hearts. God made this marvelous world in which we live.

Spectators, a few of whom waited 12 hours in the streets of the city, erupted in cheers as they caught their first glimpses of the pope arriving at the festival about 7 p.m.

The President of the Pontifical Council for Families, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, has announced that the next World Meeting of Families will be held in 2018 in Dublin, Ireland.

He may also visit Northern Ireland, possibly Armagh, ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. Nor could she be what she is called to be, namely ‘a sign and instrument of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race’.

Humble was the word Josh used to describe Francis, as so many others have throughout the trip and since the start of his papacy.

Brothers, may God grant us the gift of this new projimidad between the family and the Church.

“I think that’s why we like the Pope so much, because he’s caring for people with disabilities”, she said. And war. Love, beauty and truth of God [gestures with one hand] and destruction and war [gestures with other hand]. Children, whether young or older, they are the future, the strength that moves us forward. It is not good. They had gathered toward the back of the parkway and were hoping to see the pope pass by on his way to the stage.

“I understand the objective of his visit is to concentrate on the family, which we have no problem with”.

God does not dream by himself, he tries to do everything “with us”.

In America in particular, a country famous for its large cars, there was delight that he chose to be driven around in a modest Fiat 500 or his open-sided popemobile to meet, embrace, listen and speak with people. That is why the family is the living symbol of the loving plan of which the Father once dreamed. “To a company? No, he sent him to a family!”

“Families have difficulties. Families – we quarrel, sometimes plates can fly, and children bring headaches”.

Jesus was not a confirmed bachelor, far from it!

Instead, he repeatedly admitted his own failures and reminded people they, too, have fallen short. And then God created the world.

“The Roman Catholic Church gives him the title of “The Vicar of Christ on Earth”; but we as Free Presbyterians see him anti-Christ, where “anti” is not taken to mean that he is against Christ, but rather that he is taking the place of Christ on Earth”. It is not so easy to speak openly of one’s life journey! Times when everything seems uphill. Never let the day end without making peace. Families have a citizenship which is divine. Families which lack the basics to be able to build bonds of closeness, security and protection from troubles of any kind.

“Many, many other people were scandalised by what happened – and rightly so – and I think this is an opportunity, over a period of time, to rebuild confidence of families in the Church”.

Often, they’ll pray for families who have no home or who go to bed hungry.

By late afternoon, there was a steady stream of walkers heading towards the train station, apparently mostly composed of those who, like Arocho, had tickets for the Mass but couldn’t get in.

“He is aware of the fact that Irish society is changing”.

Difficulties “must not discourage us”.