On Saturday, Pope Francis will travel to Ireland to conclude the World Meeting of Families.
The pope will arrive at 10:30 a.m., local time. According to protocol, he will then visit the president and prime minister before addressing government officials.
The next event will be held at the cathedral of Dublin. The Vatican spokesman revealed two important details about the visit. First, before arriving, the Holy Father will pray before the remains of Matt Talbot, a simple man who was able to overcome alchohol addiction and could now be beatified.
Second, in the cathedral, Pope Francis will pray in the chapel containing a candle dedicated to victims of sexual abuse. The pope will meet in private with some of them throughout the trip. He will also see homeless families before the grand vigil of the World Meeting of Families on Saturday evening.
The following day, Pope Francis will visit the Shrine of Knock, the patron of Ireland, where Mary reportedly appeared in 1897. The Holy See verified those apparitions, the only ones where the Blessed Mother didn't leave a message. Each year, this sanctuary is visited by 1.5 million pilgrims.
After the visit, the Holy Father will return to Dublin to preside over a Mass to conclude the World Meeting of Families. He will later meet privately with the country's bishops before boarding a plane for Rome that is scheduled to arrive at 11 p.m.
