Catholics gathered at special Masses and meetings throughout Ireland today to pray for ailing Pope John Paul II.
A series of masses was celebrated throughout the day at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin and thousands of worshippers joined in prayers for John Paul.
A hand touches the feet of Christ during mass at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin today
Priests told the congregation in the Cathedral this morning they were joining with Christians all around the world to pray for the pontiff and noted the strength he had shown in the face of suffering in the last number of days.
At St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, hundreds of worshippers called to pray for the Pope at a special Mass.
The Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Seán Brady, made an appeal after saying the Mass to all Catholics throughout Ireland to make tomorrow a special Day of Prayer for the Pope.
Elsewhere, parish priests and bishops up and down the country celebrated masses in honour of the pontiff.
"Tomorrow is Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast very close to the heart of the Holy Father," he said. "It points us the wounds of Jesus' Passion, especially the wound in his heart, the source of a great wave of mercy and love poured out on humanity. The Holy Father has often told us that, in the Eucharist, he is uniting his own sufferings with those of Christ.
"I ask all Catholics in Ireland to unite tomorrow, at Mass, in prayerful solidarity with the Holy Father in this time of his final suffering," Dr Brady said.
"The courage of the Holy Father in facing his current condition is an important moment in his teaching mission. Once again he reminds us of the dignity and value of human life through all its stages. In witnessing to this message, his voice has never been stronger."