No national day of mourning for Pope

THERE will not be a national day of mourning for the Pope, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

However, flags will continue to fly at half mast on all public buildings until the Pope’s funeral. In addition, Mr Ahern said the Government would fully involve itself in Church services.

These will include diocesan Masses for the Pope at 7.30pm tonight in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, to be celebrated by Most Rev Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and 8pm in St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan, to be celebrated by Most Rev Joseph Duffy, Bishop of Clogher.