Knock Shrine Rector welcomes official confirmation of Pope's visit
THE Rector of Knock Shrine, Fr Richard Gibbons, has welcomed today's announcement that Pope Francis will visit the National Marian Shrine in Knock as part of his visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families 2018 in August.
Pope Francis will visit Knock Shrine on Sunday, August 26, to pray for families as part of his pastoral visit to Dublin for the World Meeting of Families which is taking place from August 21 to 26 on the theme 'The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World’.
During his time in Knock Pope Francis will visit the Apparition Chapel and give the Angelus address in the grounds of the Shrine.
Commenting following today's release of the Holy Father's itinerary, Father Richard Gibbons, said: "It is an honour to welcome Pope Francis to Knock Shrine on behalf of our pilgrims, parishioners and staff. We are humbled that the Holy Father will come to spend time with us in Knock to pray for families.
"Preparations are underway to make the visit of Pope Francis a wonderful moment of prayer for families across Ireland and across the world. We look forward to sharing the unique message of Knock with visitors from home and abroad."
“His Holiness has great devotion to Our Lady and also St Joseph, as represented on his Papal Coat of Arms. It is fitting that he should visit Knock, where an Apparition of Our Lady, St Joseph, St John and the Lamb of God was witnessed on August 21, 1879.”
“St John Paul II visited the Shrine to celebrate the centenary of the Apparition in 1979. We are delighted that Pope Francis will fly into Ireland West Airport Knock to begin his pilgrimage to the Shrine. Monsignor Horan, who was so instrumental in the development of the airport would be very proud to see this day.”
IRELAND WEST AIRPORT KNOCK STATEMENT
Meanwhile, a statement by Ireland West Airport reads: “We are delighted and honoured to confirm that the airport has received official confirmation from the Vatican that Pope Francis will arrive into the airport as part of a historic papal visit to the Marian Shrine at Knock in August.
“Pope Francis will arrive into Ireland West Airport on a specially chartered Aer Lingus flight from Dublin on Sunday morning August 26 from Dublin and travel by motorcade the 20-kilometre route along the N17 to Knock shrine. Following his visit to the Shrine he will return to Dublin from Ireland West Airport later that morning.
“It was following the first ever Papal visit to Ireland in 1979, when Pope John Paul II visited Knock Marian Shrine, that Monsignor Horan began his campaign to build an international airport in Mayo close to the Shrine. 38 Years later the airport is now the fourth busiest in the country and with record passenger numbers of close to 800,000 expected this year it’s a fitting tribute to his legacy that the airport will welcome Pope Francis this year.”
Speaking ahead of a historic visit to the west of Ireland, Joe Gilmore, managing director of Ireland West Airport, stated: “It will be both an honour and a privilege to welcome Pope Francis in August for what will be a historic first papal visit to the airport and the realisation of the vision of the airport founder Monsignor Horan.
“This will be a truly historic occasion and will showcase the airport, Knock Shrine and indeed the West of Ireland to a global audience of millions which will have a hugely positive impact for tourism to the region.
“I’d also like to recognise the hard work of Fr Richard Gibbons and his team in Knock who have worked tirelessly over the last number of months to make this happen and all at the airport looks forward to a great occasion in August.”