By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis ’ brief visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families Aug . 25-26 will include a quick trip to the Marian shrine at Knock and a special meeting with homeless families .
He also will meet representatives of survivors of clerical abuse and residential abuse -- such as Magdalen laundries and mother and baby homes -- during the course of his two days in Ireland .
In Maynooth , Ireland , June 11 , the day the pope ’ s itinerary was published , Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam , custodian of the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock , told reporters , “ One of the most beautiful sights at Knock is to see families , sometimes the three generations , praying and enjoying the peace and tranquility of the shrine .”
The apparition at Knock in 1879 , he said , “ was family apparition .” Fifteen people in the village said they saw the apparition of Mary , Joseph , a lamb representing Jesus , and St . John the Evangelist , to whom Jesus entrusted
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Mary as his mother .
Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh , Northern Ireland , told media he expected many Northern Ireland Catholics to travel to Knock for the occasion now that a papal visit north of the border had been ruled out .
He added that they were still “ delighted that he is coming to this island , and we ’ ll celebrate that and make the most of it .”
Keeping his custom of setting aside time for the poor and others in particular need , Pope Francis also will visit a day center for homeless families in Dublin .
The World Meeting of Families will conclude Aug . 26 with an open-air Mass in Dublin ’ s Phoenix Park . This was the venue for St . John Paul ’ s outdoor Mass in the Irish capital in 1979 , where 1.25 million people attended .
However , Archbishop Diarmuid Martin , president of the Ninth World Meeting of Families , stressed that the crowd would be capped at 600,000 to comply with health and safety regulations .
The following is the pope ’ s schedule as released by the Vatican . The times listed are local , with Eastern Daylight time in parentheses :
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Saturday , Aug . 25 ( Rome , Dublin )
• 8:15 a . m . ( 2:15 a . m .) Departure by plane from Rome ’ s Fiumicino airport .
• 10:30 a . m . ( 5:30 a . m .) Arrival at Dublin International Airport and official welcome .
• 10:45 a . m . ( 5:45 a . m .) Transfer to Aras an Uachtarain , the presidential residence .
• 11:15 a . m . ( 6:15 a . m .) Arrival at the presidential residence . Welcome ceremony in front of the main entrance .
• 11:30 a . m . ( 6:30 a . m .) Courtesy visit with the president .
• Noon ( 7 a . m .) Transfer to Dublin Castle .
• 12:10 p . m . ( 7:10 a . m .) Meeting with authorities , civil society leaders and members of the diplomatic corps in Dublin Castle . Speech by pope .
• 3:30 p . m . ( 10:30 a . m .) Visit to St . Mary ’ s Pro-Cathedral . Greeting by pope .
• 4:15 p . m . ( 11:15 a . m .) Transfer to the Capuchin Fathers ’ day center for homeless families .
• 4:30 p . m . ( 11:30 a . m .) Private visit to the day center for homeless families .
• 7:30 p . m . ( 2:30 p . m .) Arrival at Croke Park stadium .
• 7:45 p . m . ( 2:45 p . m .) Festival of Families in Croke Park stadium .
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Speech by pope . Sunday , Aug . 26 ( Dublin , Knock ,
Dublin , Rome )
• 8:40 a . m . ( 3:40 a . m .) Departure by plane for Knock .
• 9:20 a . m . ( 4:20 a . m .) Arrival at Knock airport .
• 9:45 a . m . ( 4:45 a . m .) Arrival at Knock shrine . Visit to the chapel . Recitation of the Angelus on the square in front of the shrine . Greetings by pope .
• 10:45 a . m . ( 5:45 a . m .) Transfer to Knock airport .
• 11:15 a . m . ( 6:15 a . m .) Departure by plane to Dublin .
• 11:50 a . m . ( 6:50 a . m .) Arrival at Dublin International Airport . Lunch with the papal entourage .
• 2:30 p . m . ( 9:30 a . m .) Arrival at Phoenix Park .
• 3 p . m . ( 10 a . m .) Mass in Phoenix Park . Homily by pope .
• ( No time specified ) Meeting with bishops in the convent of the Dominican Sisters . Speech by pope .
• 6:30 p . m . ( 1:30 p . m .) Arrival at Dublin International Airport . Farewell ceremony .
• 6:45 p . m . ( 1:45 p . m .) Departure by plane for Rome .
• 11 p . m . ( 5 p . m .) Arrival at Rome ’ s Ciampino airport .
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