Is Pope Benedict coming to Ireland to close the Eucharistic Congress in June 2012? The Irish Independent is convinced he is. Other news outlets are taking up the story, including the Belfast Telegraph. Protests expected - no doubt about that. Is it a good idea? Perhaps.
For one thing it will provide an opportunity for victims of abuse to meet him and talk to him, and to actually see that he is not the unfeeling, evil ogre the press in Ireland and certain groups have made him out to be. It will be a moment of healing for them and the Church in Ireland. That is badly needed and can only be good. It will also mean that the Congress organising committees will have to look again at their programme and exorcise certain elements, and a certain theologian, from their plans. Recent conversations with many involved in the organisation over the last few weeks have only confirmed the truth of what I said in my last post on the Congress.
Also, it might do something to push the Cause of the Venerable Matt Talbot who has been waiting in the wings for far too long. There is a miracle, I believe, but I do not hear of anything being done about it. As these things must remain secret, all I can say there is that a person who is known to me was mysteriously healed of a malignant tumour through Matt's intercession back in 2002.
With reference to the last post: a Papal visit will ensure the corrected translation will be implemented as planned. After all which Irish Bishop or MC wants to pop into the Papal tent before the Mass to explain to His Holiness that for the sake of sensitivity to senior priests the translation has been put on hold......
I think it would be a good idea if he came. Only worry - RTE and print media's campaign of anti-Catholicism in preparation for the visit. So we would have to endure that - but then a bit of penance in preparation for the visit would have its benefits.
