Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI is likely to make a live televised address to the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in June as opposed to visiting Ireland, according to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin.

The news emerged after the Holy Father joined the quarter of a million pilgrims being urged to Ring for Renewal in the Church in Ireland on St Patrick’s Day when he rang the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) Bell today at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict met with a delegation from the organising committee for the IEC2012 before his weekly general audience this morning. The delegation from Dublin, led by Archbishop Martin, met with the Pope below the Arch of the Bell’s, towards the left hand side of St Peter’s Basilica, and presented him with a bowl of shamrock.

Fr Kevin Doran, the secretary general of IEC2012, spoke highly of their audience with the 84-year-old Pontiff.

“The Pope blessed the bell, rang it vigourously, and paused to admire the icons as Archbishop Martin explained their significance,” he said. “He was presented with shamrock by Colette Furlong and with the first copy of the Congress Commemorative Medal, by Sheena Darcy.”

The IEC Bell has been taken to parishes all over Ireland during the past year with the aim of calling people out of everyday life and moving them towards the spiritual sphere.

Although the Eucharistic Congress has faced some criticism in light of recent problems for the Church in Ireland, organisers say it is beginning to take shape and could lead to a genuine moment of renewal in the Church.

The Ring for Renewal campaign, launched by Archbishop Martin, is encouraging cathedrals, churches and chapels all across Ireland to ring their bells for two minutes at 12 noon and at 6pm this Saturday, March 17, St Patrick’s Day, to symbolise renewal and call for a gathering in preparation for the Congress, which the archbishop insists ‘is being seen as a unique opportunity for renewal of the Christian life.’

Pope Benedict had been asked by the IEC 2012 committee to attend the International Eucharistic Congress. The congress, due to start on the June 10, is expected to attract up to 25,000 people a day to the RDS venue in Dublin. The Congress was last held in Ireland in 1932, an event which coincided with the 1500th anniversary of the arrival of the patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick.

The 50th IEC is expected to attract up 1200 international pilgrims from 99 different countries who aim to celebrate the congress in Dublin.

Pics:(Above) Pope Benedict XVI rings the International Eucharistic Congress Bell before his general audience today. At left are Fr Kevin Doran, secretary general of the International Eucharistic Congress, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin , president of the congress.

(Below) Balloons are seen as Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead his general audience in St Peter’s Square this morning