St. Patrick's Day 2024
St. Patrick's Day 2024
Marking Ireland's National Day 2024
Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler T.D visited the Holy See as part of her St Patrick’s Day Programme which also included visits to Italy and Cyprus.
The Holy See programme began on Wednesday March 13th at the General Audience with Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square accompanied by Ambassador Frances Collins, Rector of the Pontifical Irish College Fr. Paul Finnerty, and our two youth Ambassadors Megan and Sinéad from the Irish College. Minister Butler had the opportunity to present Pope Francis with a Waterford Crystal bowl of shamrock and exchange brief greetings from the prima fila after the General Audience.
The Minister was guest of honour at a lunch hosted by the Pontifical Irish College. The focus of St. Patrick's Day this year was on Ireland’s younger population at home and abroad, and our affinity diaspora. The Minister met with lay students, seminarians and post-graduate students from Ireland and from almost 20 different countries, and heard about their experiences in Rome and plans for the future.
In the evening the Minister attended the Irish Religious Community Reception at the official Residence. In her remarks, the Minister spoke about some of Ireland's foreign policy priorities and acknowledged the work of the Irish Religious diaspora, particularly the work of Irish Missionaries. The reception was attended by members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, officials from the Holy See curia, and Irish Religious diaspora and friends.