The Alleluia Weekend of Ireland

As we stepped out of the plane at Dublin Airport into a sunny but windy day and the Holy Father went on his knees to kiss the land of Ireland, there began, what later became known as, "The Alleluia Weekend of Ireland". That weekend unfolded as those short few days opened the heart of the Irish Nation to welcome the Vicar of Christ and he himself gave his all in every encounter in every celebration, in every speech and homily. From his Eucharist celebration in Phoenix Park with over one and a quarter million people where the theme was "It's the Mass that matters" he went to Drogheda where on bended knees he appealed to those engaged in violence: "I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of peace". The encounter in Drogheda left a great impression on the Holy Father and has remained in his memory ever since. Recently I had the privilege of being invited to his table in the Vatican and he reminisced with me on the many Papal visits we had made together. Then he rightly said that for me the most memorable visit would have been that to Ireland. Suddenly he put me this question: "What did they do with the Drogheda Cross?" I was astonished. In the meantime the Holy Father has travelled over the whole world several times and has completed more than one hundred pastoral visits abroad and yet he would remember Drogheda and its Cross. I recalled on the occasion of his visit to the venue, north of Drogheda, on that first day of his visit the Holy Father took time to look at the large Celtic Cross that had been erected above the podium and, on that occasion, he said to me: "I wonder what will they do with this Cross". Some twenty-two years later he asked me that very question again. I told him that it had been erected on the side of the main road from Dublin to Belfast and I said that he would be most welcome to return and pay a visit to it. He replied immediately: "I would dearly wish to but on one condition that I would continue on the road to Belfast".
That first day of his visit was so packed that, some years later, the Holy Father said to me: "You know, they tried to kill me in Ireland". I was puzzled but he put my mind at ease by explaining that the programme for the first day was impossible. However, he was comforted by the fact that, when he was already two hours behind schedule and he still had to meet the members of the Press, an unexpected surprise was awaiting him. As he stepped out before the packed hall of Press men and women he was wondering what he should say to explain the delay when he was greeted by the whole hall breaking into song: "For he's a jolly good fellow". That is a memory he carries with him to this day.
The visit to Clonmacnois was one Pope John Paul truly looked forward to. He wanted to personally render thanks for the one thousand years during which the Irish monks kept the faith in Jesus Christ alive in Europe and travelled as far as Kiev in the homeland of Poland to establish a seminary. Then over to the extraordinary encounter of Galway and the celebration with the Youth of Ireland, an occasion still etched in the memory not only of the Pope but of all who witnessed the enthusiastic response of the youth to the Holy Father's words: "Young people of Ireland, I love you! Young People of Ireland, I bless you!". I myself stood by his side and witnessed with him the spontaneous outburst of youthful enthusiasm. Years later His Holiness would say to me: "The most memorable encounter with Youth I had was in Galway".
"Here I am at the goal of my journey to Ireland: The Shrine of Our Lady at Knock". With these words the Holy Father began his pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine of Ireland. This was the culmination of his pastoral visit to the people of Ireland under the mantle of Mary. On that occasion, I remember very well, His Holiness, as he finished his homily asked me to write out for him an appropriate formula with which, at the end of the Mass, he could declare the New Church of Our Lady of Ireland a Basilica. The process had not as yet been completed in Rome to have such a declaration made on the occasion of his visit but the Pope decided on that day, Sunday 30th September, that henceforth that beautiful Church would be known under the title of Basilica. How happy I was to comply!
On the final day of the visit the good weather which had accompanied us so far now gave way to a fog-bound Dublin and there was fear that the Maynooth visit would not take place en route to Limerick. However, the Holy Father decided himself that Maynooth was certainly to be visited and having delivered his speech to all the priests, missionaries, religious and seminarians of Ireland at a speed which astonished me he asked the crowd: "How many mistakes did the Pope make in his speech? His sense of humour blending so well with the sense of the moment endeared him to all and all who heard him, with his deep resonant voice, and witnessed the depth of his faith and commitment could not but say: "Christ has walked in our midst today".
Limerick Racecourse was the venue for the last great encounter with the people of Ireland when the Holy Father spoke to the families of Ireland on the sanctity of marriage and the sacredness of human life. I remember well the pressures which were upon us to get the Pope to Shannon on time for his onward journey to America. But His Holiness seemed almost reluctant to go. He had come to know well the people of Ireland and in a sense he was going to leave part of his heart with them. During the first week of his Pontificate the Holy Father had confided in me that he wished, in his first year, to make three visits: to Mexico, to Poland and to Ireland. He wished to say to each of these peoples "Semper Fidelis" - always faithful - a title which he said each of these Nations merited for their long standing fidelity to the Eucharist, to the Mother of God and to the Person of the Vicar of Christ. Each of these Nations had, down through centuries of persecution, remained faithful and so the last words of the Vicar of Christ on Irish soil were "Ireland: semper fidelis, always faithful.
As I look back on that "Alleluia Weekend" in Ireland I thank God for the great privilege I had of accompanying the Vicar of Christ to my country and I pray that we may never forget the message that he left us: a call to fidelity, a call to peace, a call to love in Christ.. Moladh go deo le Dia! + John Magee, Bishop of Cloyne.