Still haven’t had a pizza with Pope Francis but thanks for your support

Perhaps a few may be interested in a quick update from the spiritual bunker from which I wrote to the Holy Father (Irish Examiner, June 15).

To recall, in summary, for those who may have missed it, I wrote with a heavy heart to Pope Francis to plead for his personal intervention for the Irish Catholic Church. I pointed out to the pontiff that I believed the Catholicism in Ireland is dying and is at serious crisis.

Whilst there has not been a peep out of officialdom, the reaction to the letter from the public has been huge. Whilst it was lovely to receive so many pledges of support and prayer for priests, and heartening to think that in some way it gave a voice to how many felt, what I was most enamoured by, was the idea that it led to many people discussingCatholicism their kitchen, in the pub, on the train and on the bus.