Pope Francis will come to Ireland for two days to attend the 9th World Meeting of Families, taking place in Dublin 21st — 26th August. This is the first Papal visit in 40 years, Pope John Paul II visited Ireland in 1979. The Pope will arrive in Dublin on Sat 25th August, and will take part in the ‘Festival of Families’ in Croake Park-the venue for ‘All Ireland’ hurling and football finals. On Sunday 26th August Pope Francis is due to travel to Knock Shrine in the West of Ireland by helicopter and visit the

Basilica and the Shrine dedicated to the Apparition of our Lady. In the afternoon Pope Francis will be the chief Celebrant at Holy Mass in Phoenix Park – a large open space in the city of Dublin.