Pope Francis invited to ‘follow in footsteps of St Patrick’

Pope Francis invited to ‘follow in footsteps of St Patrick’

4 November 2015

LOCAL politicians have extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit the area when he is in Ireland in 2018.

But the decision taken at Monday night’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, was not unanimous, with a number of DUP, Ulster Unionist and UKIP councillors voting against the SDLP proposal which was passed by 23 votes to four. There were four abstentions.

Rowallane councillor, Terry Andrews, proposed Pope Francis should be invited to visit the area “to follow in the footsteps of St Patrick.” 

Councillor Andrews said the council area has many connections and associations with Christianity  and explained during the last Papal visit to Ireland in 1979 it was hoped Pope John Paul would travel to Northern Ireland, but this never happened.

“The world has changed so much since then as have relations between Ireland and Great Britain. Successive Popes and the Queen have paid courtesy calls to each other and for the first time since 1910 the Queen visited Dublin. We should extend a warm, cordial invitation to Pope Francis to come to this most beautiful part of the world and follow the footsteps of Patrick, see the many splendours of our area and meet many diverse people, from so many different backgrounds and beliefs,” he added.

Independent councillor Cadogan Enright said inviting the Pope to take part in an open air mass was a “excellent idea” as the event would provide an opportunity to “show off the council area to the world,” while Sinn Fein councillor, Willie Clarke, said the Pope would decide where he visits if he travels north.

“Pope Francis has much humility and I think he will decide where he goes. He will be looking to visit areas of deprivation, homeless shelters, the poor and the less well off. That is what I would like to see him doing as he is someone who makes a difference to the lives of ordinary people.”

DUP councillors Garth Craig and Harry Harvey expressed their opposition to the motion while party colleague Billy Walker, a close friend of councillor Andrews, said he would not support the motion nor vote against it.

Councillor Harvey said as member of the DUP and Free Presbyterian Church he did not want his name on the invitation to Pope Francis or to be part of any welcoming committee, explaining this did not mean he would be opposing any visit.

“With the utmost respect to all I will not be supporting this motion, but I fully accept the wishes of the people,” he added.

Councillor Craig said he respects the views of councillor Andrews and acknowledged his work for the Roman Catholic church. The DUP man said he wished the people in his community “showed as much devotion to their church as councillor Andrews does to his.”

“I have discussed with Terry my fundamental theological differences with the teaching of his church and he understands that. I know he does not take this personally nor should anyone here. I respect Terry’s views and his desire to have the Pope visit our area. If I was to welcome the Pope that would be tantamount to me denying my faith,” he added.

The DUP’s Glynn Hanna said he “had no problem with the Pope,” describing him as a “Christian gentleman.”

UUP councillor Harold McKee said as a member of the Presbyterian church “his faith did not allow him to support the motion,” while party colleague David Taylor explained while he would not be supporting the motion, he believes in civil and religious liberty for everyone.

UKIP’s Henry Reilly said Pope Francis was someone who has taken “tremendous levels of abuse from the liberal, metropolitan elite and the establishment” with the Pontiff in support of laws that would ban gay marriage.

He added: “The parties in this chamber asking for the Pope to come here are the very parties who are going completely against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church in their support for gay marriage. It’s a strange world we live in when an Orangeman from Kilkeel has more in common  with the Pope than the SDLP, Sinn Fein and Alliance. I will not support this ‘sham’ motion designed to assuage and smooth the conscience of lapsed Catholics.”