Ballybrit to host another papal visit?

A SOUTH Galway councillor is still waiting for white smoke, following his request to issue an open invitation to newly-elected Pope Francis to visit Galway.
It may take a few weeks before Galway County Council gets an official response to its request for the new Pope to ensure Ballybrit racecourse will again be the location for a papal visit – 24 years after an estimated 280,000 packed the same venue to see Pope John Paul II’s visit on September 30, 1979.
However, Councillor Michael Fahy was very quick off the starting blocks at a recent county council meeting, when he proposed that an invitation should be extended to Pope Francis to visit Galway. The proposal was passed at the meeting.
He made the plea in view of the strong connection formed by the people of Galway with the papacy arising from the historic 1979 visit.
Having joined the thousands of people at Ballybrit racecourse that day, Councillor Fahy noted the young people who participated in that historic occasion are now young adults, who would welcome a visit from Pope Francis.
Councillor Fahy also wants a special DVD of Pope John Paul II’s 1979 visit to accompany the invitation to the Vatican to give Pope Francis an indication of the huge impact the trip made.
The Ardrahan councillor said a papal visit would represent a huge boost for Galway and the entire country. He pointed out he is the only councillor who remains on the local authority since John Paul II’s visit. President Michael D Higgins was also a councillor in 1979.
The invitation has been copied to Bishop Martin Drennan, the Bishop of Galway, Kilmaduagh and Kilfenora; the Archbishop of Tuam, Archbishop Michael Neary; the Bishop of Clonfert, John Kirby and the Papal Nuncio, Most Rev John Charles Brown.
It was reported recently that the Primate of All-Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh, Cardinal Sean Brady will extend a message of invitation to Pope Francis.
In his homily in 1979, Pope John Paul II said, “I believe in youth. I believe in youth with all my heart and strength of my conviction and today I say, I believe in the Youth of Ireland. Young people of Ireland, I love you.”