Pope’s death ‘deprived him of return visit to Ireland’

THE Pope’s death has deprived the Irish people of his final message to them, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern heard last night.

Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin told the State’s memorial service at the Pro-Cathedral: “We do not know what Pope John Paul II might have said to us had he been able to realise his desire to return to Ireland.”

Dr Martin concelebrated the Solemn Remembrance Mass with the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto.