Taoiseach asks Pope to pay visit to Ireland

Pope Francis has been invited to visit Ireland during a brief meeting with the Taoiseach, who told him his papacy had brought about an “extraordinary difference to the perception of the Catholic Church”.

Enda Kenny said there was now a “clearer and healthier relationship between Church and State”in this country, and signalled that a new ambassador to the Holy See will be named this week.

While it is not the official responsibility of the Government to invite the Pope, Mr Kenny said that if the Church authorities were to extend an invitation and it was accepted, then the Government “will see to it that everything is done to make that visit a real success”.