Former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has reflected on Papa Francis’ 2018 visit to Ireland, calling it a powerful moment during a tense chapter in Ireland’s relationship with the Catholic Church. It was the first papal visit in nearly four decades, arriving shortly after landmark social changes like the legalization of abortion and same-sex marriage.
Mr. Varadkar admitted initial nervousness ahead of meeting the Pope, given Ireland’s reckoning with clerical abuse scandals and institutional failures involving mother and baby homes. Yet he described the Pope’s attitude as “compassionate first, traditional second.”
During the visit, the pontiff also met Varadkar’s partner, Matthew Barrett. “We were among the first openly gay political couples to meet him—and he welcomed it warmly,” said Varadkar, noting that Francis later denounced the criminalization of LGBTQ+ people globally.
The Pope’s inclusive stance extended further—acknowledging trans individuals as eligible godparents and stressing the universal dignity of all people.
President Michael D. Higgins, set to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, remembered the pontiff’s focus on humanitarian crises, the environment, and migrant rights. “We didn’t agree on everything,” he said, citing differing stances on abortion, “but his voice was one of conscience.”
In Knock, where the Pope visited in 2018, a special Requiem Mass will honor him. The shrine, known for its Marian apparition and miracles, saw thousands gather despite pouring rain. The Pope’s open apologies for the Church’s abuses deeply moved the Irish faithful.
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