‘He has suffered a lot and I’m thankful he is at peace’

MARY WHELAN had eight of her 10 daughters with her on her birthday trip to Rome.

Her only son, christened John Paul when he was born while the Pope was in Ireland 25 years ago, did not travel.

The three-day trip was a birthday gift for the Laois woman from her family and it was her first time in the eternal city.

They had a tour of the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica but when they got to the Sistine Chapel it was closed, and probably won’t open again until a new pope is elected.

“It’s all beautiful. It’s sad with the Pope dying, but the atmosphere is lovely in the Vatican. Very peaceful really,” she said. Later in the evening, after the Pope’s death was announced, Sr Louise Mullan, from Belfast, was finding it difficult to leave St Peter’s Square.

The 25-year-old Dominican nun was being stopped by every camera crew and journalist as she made her way over the cobblestones.

They wanted to know what such a young person thought of the late Pope.

“There are a lot of people very sad, and young people sad he will not be at the World Youth day celebrations later in the year.

“But he has suffered a lot and I’m thankful that he is at peace,” said Sr Mullan, from the Ormeau Road, who is studying in Rome.