Donal Cassidy
The Popes Cross
Popes Cross
On 16th October 1978 Cardinal Karol Kojtyla of Krakow, Poland was elected the 264th Pope of the Catholic Church and took the name of John Paul 11.
On 29th & 30th September and 1st October 1979, Pope John Paul 11 visited Ireland. It was the 3rd Pilgrimage of his Pontificate. Pope John Paul 11 flew into the Phoenix Park in Dublin where hundreds of thousands were gathered for the Papal Mass. In his first words to the Irish people when he had kissed the tarmac at Dublin Airport, the 59 year old pope declared that he was happy to walk in the footsteps of St. Patrick as the successor of St. Peter.
From the Phoenix Park the pope flew by helicopter to Killineer on the Monasterboice Parish boarder, where his visit was keenly awaited as it had been flagged in advance as an appeal to the IRA to give up it’s violence. It was because of two of the IRA’s most appalling actions a month earlier that the Pope had to cancel a planned trip to Armagh. This change for security reasons followed the murder of Lord Louis Mountbatten and members of his family at Mullaghmore Co.Sligo, where his fishing boat was blown up and also the killing of 18 British Soldiers near Warrenpoint Co.Down by landmines on the same day, August 27th.Popes Cross
A crowd estimated at 250,000 many from Norther Ireland heard the Pope appeal to the Men and Women of violence to end it;
“On my knees I beg you, to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of Peace…. Those who resort to violence always claim that only violence brings about change. You must know there is a Political, Peaceful way to Justice.”
Many locals from the Parish of Monasterboice as well as the surrounding Parishes worked as unpaid stewards at the event. The Gardai and Army provided security.
The Pope drove among the crowds in the special ‘Popemobile’ to give people a better chance to see him. From Killineer, the Pope flew back to Dublin where he had little time to rest before continuing his packed schedual.
The Pope ended his Irish visit at Shannon where he flew out from, there Presidant Hillary told the Pope that “In the hearts of the people of Ireland, your memory will remain forever bright.”
To comemorate the visit of Pope John Paul 11 to Killineer, a cross was erected by the Diocese, close to the field that he spoke from.
On April 2nd 2005 Pope John Paul 11 died. Crowds of mourners gathered at the Popes Cross to remember and pray for him. Candles were lit, flowers were laid and a vigil was held in his honour.
The Popes Cross
Popes Cross
On 16th October 1978 Cardinal Karol Kojtyla of Krakow, Poland was elected the 264th Pope of the Catholic Church and took the name of John Paul 11.
On 29th & 30th September and 1st October 1979, Pope John Paul 11 visited Ireland. It was the 3rd Pilgrimage of his Pontificate. Pope John Paul 11 flew into the Phoenix Park in Dublin where hundreds of thousands were gathered for the Papal Mass. In his first words to the Irish people when he had kissed the tarmac at Dublin Airport, the 59 year old pope declared that he was happy to walk in the footsteps of St. Patrick as the successor of St. Peter.
From the Phoenix Park the pope flew by helicopter to Killineer on the Monasterboice Parish boarder, where his visit was keenly awaited as it had been flagged in advance as an appeal to the IRA to give up it’s violence. It was because of two of the IRA’s most appalling actions a month earlier that the Pope had to cancel a planned trip to Armagh. This change for security reasons followed the murder of Lord Louis Mountbatten and members of his family at Mullaghmore Co.Sligo, where his fishing boat was blown up and also the killing of 18 British Soldiers near Warrenpoint Co.Down by landmines on the same day, August 27th.Popes Cross
A crowd estimated at 250,000 many from Norther Ireland heard the Pope appeal to the Men and Women of violence to end it;
“On my knees I beg you, to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of Peace…. Those who resort to violence always claim that only violence brings about change. You must know there is a Political, Peaceful way to Justice.”
Many locals from the Parish of Monasterboice as well as the surrounding Parishes worked as unpaid stewards at the event. The Gardai and Army provided security.
The Pope drove among the crowds in the special ‘Popemobile’ to give people a better chance to see him. From Killineer, the Pope flew back to Dublin where he had little time to rest before continuing his packed schedual.
The Pope ended his Irish visit at Shannon where he flew out from, there Presidant Hillary told the Pope that “In the hearts of the people of Ireland, your memory will remain forever bright.”
To comemorate the visit of Pope John Paul 11 to Killineer, a cross was erected by the Diocese, close to the field that he spoke from.
On April 2nd 2005 Pope John Paul 11 died. Crowds of mourners gathered at the Popes Cross to remember and pray for him. Candles were lit, flowers were laid and a vigil was held in his honour.