Diocesan News
Representatives of CITI Meet the Pope in Rome
The Church of Ireland Theological Institute was represented at a general audience with the Pope recently. The Revd Nigel Pierpoint and Daphne Metcalfe conveyed greetings from the Church of Ireland and the Archbishop of Dublin following the general audience with Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square at the end of August.
Back in November 2014 it was decided that the Church of Ireland Theological Institute would undertake a field and study trip to Rome in August of this year. Nigel, who was then senior student (and is now Intern Deacon with the Parish of Taney and St Nahi in Dublin), spoke with the director of the Institute, Canon Maurice Elliott and Archbishop Michael Jackson asking them if it would be appropriate and acceptable to write to the Vatican requesting an audience with Pope Francis.
Nigel then corresponded with the Vatican Offices, the Papal Nuncio and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, enquiring as to the possibility of attending a general audience with the Pontiff in St Peter’s Square. This request was facilitated by the offices of Archbishop Martin in Dublin and Monsignor John Kennedy in Rome.
Unfortunately the group was not scheduled to arrive until after the general audience so Nigel and the secretary to CITI, Daphne Metcalfe, travelled to Rome ahead of the main group.
On the day of the audience, Monsignor Kennedy met the duo at the gates of the Vatican offices and escorted them through the private offices of the Pontiff providing a commentary as they progressed to their seats beside the dais. Following the prayers and Papal address Pope Francis met a small number of invited guests, including Nigel and Daphne (pictured above).
Nigel conveyed Christian greetings from Archbishop Jackson and from the Church of Ireland. Pope Francis was very pleased that members of the Anglican Church in Ireland were present at the audience and asked Nigel to pray for him. Nigel replied that he would pray for him and asked in return that the Pope pray for us in the Anglican Communion, to which he readily agreed. His Holiness thanked Nigel and Daphne for being present and wished them every blessing.
Diocesan Communications Officer, Dublin & Glendalough
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Lynn Glanville
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