Council opens Book of Condolences for Pope Francis
A Book of Condolences in memory of Pope Francis has opened at Buvinda House in Navan.
Meath County Council has opened the book in the front reception area of Buvinda House for people to record their thoughts, prayers and sympathies , following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at the age of 88.
The book was opened by Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy, in the presence of Fr Kevin Heery, Johnstown Parish Priest, and Director of Services, Fiona Lawless.
For anyone who wishes to sign it, the book will be available at Buvinda House's front reception from 9.30am to 5pm until Friday evening.
Funeral Coverage
RTÉ will air live coverage on television, radio and online of the funeral of Pope Francis which takes place this Saturday.
Beginning at 8.30am on RTÉ One and RTE Player, David McCullagh and Sharon Ní Bheoláin will present a special programme featuring coverage of the funeral of Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Áine Lawlor and Fr Michael Collins will provide commentary of the ceremony.
On RTÉ Radio 1, special coverage of the funeral of the Pope will be presented by Dearbhail McDonald from 8.30am. Colm Ó Mongáin and Fr Thomas McCarthy will provide live radio commentary.
Detailed online news reporting, along with video and audio coverage will be available on the RTÉ News App and RTE.ie
The funeral is due to be attended by heads of state and international leaders including President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and An Tánaiste Simon Harris.
The RTÉ News channel will broadcast wider coverage of events from early morning.
Navan native Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican, has been prominent in RTE coverage of the Pope's funeral preparations, featuring on PrimeTime with Miriam O'Callaghan over the last two nights.
He was born in 1958 and grew up in Navan and Sligo, graduating from University College Dublin in 1979 with a degree in Civil Law. Having studied for the priesthood at Holy Cross College, Dublin, and at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome, he was ordained a priest of the Dublin Diocese in 1983.
His first appointment was as parish chaplain and teacher in Ballyfermot. Subsequently, he studied Moral Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and in 1990 was appointed as a Lecturer in Moral Theology at the Mater Dei Institute of Education in Dublin and at Holy Cross College. He was appointed head of the Theology department in 2000.
In 2004, he was named as Director of the Communications Office of Dublin Diocese. In 2005, he established the Office for Public Affairs which aimed to promote the engagement of the Diocese with public institutions and civic society.
In November 2007 Pope Benedict XVI announced his appointment as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He was appointed titular Bishop of Drivastrum and Adjunct Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture by Pope Francis on 19 December 2015. Pope Francis nominated him Secretary on 28 October 2017.
Mass in Armagh
Meanwhile, Archbishop Eamon Martin says all are welcome to Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh tomorrow, Thursday 24 April at 7pm, for a Memorial Mass joining with the Universal Church in memory of the late Pope Francis RIP.
“As we give thanks for Pope Francis’ ministry, we also undertake the solemn duty of prayerfully commending his soul to God," he said.
During these days of mourning, Armagh is one of a number of Church locations around Ireland celebrating memorial masses to facilitate parishioners to gather and pray together for the happy repose of the soul of the Holy Father.
The Mass in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral will be live-streamed at https://www.armaghparish.net/webcams/cathedral-webcam/
The Bishops’ Communications Office in Maynooth has made available digital Books of Condolence for people to record their sympathy. These are available on the homepage of catholicbishops.ie, on the Irish bishops’ social media platforms of Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and on BlueSky.