Holy Father Pope Benedict to visit ireland???

[celtboy]

Martin McGuinness
MONDAY 26/11/2007

McGuinness hopes for papal visit

Martin McGuinness has expressed hope that Northern Ireland will soon have its first ever papal visit.



After attending mass at St Peter`s Basilica in Rome at the weekend, following the installation of Cardinal Sean Brady, the Stormont Deputy First Minister said a visit by Pope Benedict would be warmly welcomed by Catholics and Protestants.

He also noted the considerable interest in Northern Ireland`s peace process in the Vatican and the goodwill that existed towards Stormont`s power sharing government.


"I have no doubt for one minute that the prospect of a visit by Pope Benedict would have been raised in Cardinal Brady`s conversations with the Holy Father over the course of this weekend," he said.

"What was discussed is obviously a matter for them but there has been a lot of talk about the prospect of another papal visit.

"If such a visit were to happen I think it would be regarded as a particularly joyous occasion."