Taoiseach Enda Kenny met with the Pope today.
Mr Kenny and his wife Fionnuala met the the Pope at the Apostolic Palace, beside St Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
BREAKING: Taoiseach @EndaKennyTD begins his 30 min audience with @Pontifex in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican pic.twitter.com/H2UytroBFJ
— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) November 28, 2016
Taoiseach Enda Kenny invited the Pope to Ireland and it is said that he will travel here in August 2018.
The Taoiseach and the Pope exchanged gifts during their meeting.
Taoiseach presents @Pontifex with a gift, a print of artist Harry Clarke's stained glass window pic.twitter.com/lKPM9WtsAw
— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) November 28, 2016
Pope Francis presents Taoiseach with an etching of St Peter's Basilica as it was originally designed. pic.twitter.com/VjTj11tDWP
— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) November 28, 2016
The last time a pontiff visited Ireland was in 1979 when John Paul II came to Phoenix Park in Dublin. At the time over 1 million people came to greet him.