Pope may signal visit as Irish delegation attend Vatican event

Pope Benedict XVI may give some indication of an intention to attend the upcoming International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin when he meets an Irish delegation today.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is leading the group which will meet the Pope in Saint Peter's Square

today as part of preparations for the event, which will take place in Croke Park on June 17.

They will present the Pontiff with the Eucharistic Congress Bell which has been rung by a quarter of a million Irish pilgrims already as part of the preparations for the event.

They are hoping he will ring the bell to symbolically call people around the world to attend the congress.

The Pope will also be given a bowl of shamrock to celebrate St Patrick's Day.