Tickets to attend papal events in Ireland were snapped up in days and a recent poll revealed that, even in a today’s increasingly secular and diverse climate, Pope Francis is, by far, the Irish people’s most popular world figure. But how much do people here actually know about his ideas?
Mick Peelo challenges a diverse group of Irish people to read, respond to and possibly live by Pope Francis’ teachings.
The Megan family are sixth generation dairy farmers in Co. Longford, who want to pass on a viable farm to their children and grandchildren. So, what will they make of the Pope’s radical thoughts on climate change and environmental sustainability, which challenge their whole philosophy and approach?
Jesuit-educated atheist and now not-so-secret millionaire, Richard Mulcahy, agrees to read the Pope’s teachings on wealth and economics and finds he agrees with much of Pope Francis’ critique of capitalism. However, he challenges the moral authority of a hugely wealthy, male-dominated Church to lecture others on the need for equality and social justice.
Fr Tony Coote has been in the headlines of late, because of his heroic response to Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis, leading a walk the length of Ireland, to raise awareness and money for better treatment of the disease. MND has forced his parishioners in Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin to step up and take responsibility for the life of their church, but many of them were on that road already. The parish had already taken Francis at his word, in welcoming and supporting the al-Jarads, a migrant Syrian family. Fr Tony has been thrilled to discover in Francis a Pope determined to peel away the self-importance, sanctimony and judgmentalism that, he feels, has marred the Catholic Church for too long.
Finally, in Mayo, former Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh, finds herself at odds with her LGBT friends in retaining any attachment to a Church in which they often feel judged and unwelcome. So, what will she make of Francis’ teachings on the family and relationships? Could she live with the Pope?