Sir, – “The Tánaiste told the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs that if the Vatican were to request a Papal visit to Ireland he has no doubt the Government would respond positively and extend an invitation”, reports Political Correspondent Harry McGee (Home News, December 15th)
Our Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, who closed our Vatican Embassy, would apparently like Pope Benedict to grovel.
On the same date John Moran’s Letter from Cuba (World News) reports that Cuban Catholic Church “is now the largest organisation in Cuba apart from the Communist Party . . . Early next year Pope Benedict will make an official visit to the island.”
The Communist Raul Castro extends a “céad míle fáilte” to Pope Benedict. – Yours, etc,