Confrontational - Pope’s visit off to a bad start
In 1979, John Paul II received something approaching a universal and ecstatic welcome, one that Francis is, for many well-rehearsed, sordid reasons, unlikely to enjoy. That prospect was made even more remote when it was announced that the Pope will “do everything he can” to visit the World Families Meetings, which will be held in Ireland during his visit. The theme of that conference will be “the church’s conception of married life between a man and a woman.”
The Vatican has a better understanding of how diplomacy works than most countries. It has long, long experience in the ‘science’, so it will be fully aware of the snub to this Republic which that theme represents. The Vatican will be aware, too, that this is a democracy and that we voted for arrangements around marriage that the Catholic church does not endorse.
