'He will return to Ireland' says Irish priest who is a friend of Pope Leo XIV

Newly-elected Pope Leo, Robert Prevost, second from left, alongside his fellow Augustinians Fr Jerry Horan, Fr Pat Moran, and Fr Michael Brennock at St Augustine’s Church in Cork in Easter 2007 to honour Peg Bolton and Marie Finn for their 50 years singing in the choir. Picture: Gerard Bonus

Ireland could be set for a papal visit in less than five years, an Irish priest who is a friend of newly elected Pope Leo XIV has said.

During his two six-year terms between 2001 and 2013 as prior general of the Augustinians, Robert Francis Prevost visited Ireland on a number of occasions — including a trip to Cork in 2007.

One of his friends since that time, Fr Tony Finn, says that the new Pope — elected on Thursday by a conclave of cardinals in Rome — loved his time in Ireland and he has no doubt he will be back.

“He will come to Ireland,” said Fr Finn — who is now based in Galway.

“I know that he will come to Ireland at the first opportunity. I'd say less [than five years].

“I don't know when, but he'll certainly come. He will go to the US, to Africa, and Peru.”

Of Pope Leo's visits to Ireland between 2001 and 2013, Fr Finn — who served in Cork City for eight years before going to Rome in 2005 where here got to know the now pontiff — said: “He loved Ireland. He loved the people.” 

On a visit to Cork at Easter 2007, the now pope is pictured on the altar of St Augustin's Church alongside his fellow Augustinians Fr Jerry Horan, Fr Pat Moran, and Fr Michael Brennock to honour Peg Bolton and Marie Finn for their 50 years singing in the choir.

Whether or not he had a flutter on the horses, attended a GAA game, or even set foot inside a pub, let alone drank a pint of Guinness during his time in Cork or elsewhere in Ireland, Fr Tony Finn is not sure nor is he for telling.

'Very open Pope'

However, he did recall a man who was not adverse to doing his own shopping in a local grocery store off the main direct avenue leading up to St Peter’s Basilica, Via della Conciliazione, in Rome or getting his own coffee in one of the coffee bars surrounding the Vatican City.

America’s first Pope, who he got to know well while they were both based in Rome, he said: “I think he will be a very open Pope. Like Pope Francis, I think he'd be very, very missionary in his outlook.

Fr Tony Finn believes Pope Leo XIV will choose to live in the same Vatican guesthouse that Pope Francis lived in, instead of the Apostolic Palace on the Piazza San Pietro. Picture: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

“I think, from what I know of him personally, he is a very kind, humble, and caring person. There's no airs or graces about him. He just gets on with the work.

He was always hard working, even when he was prior general

Fr Finn believes the new Pope will choose to live in the same Vatican guesthouse Pope Francis lived in, instead of the Apostolic Palace on the Piazza San Pietro.

A guest house for clergy visiting the Holy See, it more recently served as the temporary residence for members of the College of Cardinals participating in the papal conclave.

Fr Finn said: “I don't think he would want to be living in a bigger place.

“At the moment, he's living in a small apartment. There's no reason why he shouldn't go back to St Martha House, where Pope Francis lived.”