Enda Kenny hopes to still be in office to welcome Pope Francis in 2018

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he hopes to still be in office to welcome Pope Francis to Ireland in 2018.

The Pope is expected to visit Ireland that year after a request from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

At a political correspondents’ briefing in Dublin, when asked if he would welcome him here as head of Government, Mr Kenny said he hoped so. His comments followed the announcement that he would have a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican next Monday morning.