This week in Christian history: Pope John Paul II visits Ireland, George Whitefield dies, BBN launched

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, September 29, 2024

John Paul II becomes first pope to visit Ireland – Sept. 29, 1979

Pope John Paul II oversees a mass near at Phoenix Park near Dublin, Ireland in Sept. 1979. Reportedly, more than one million people attended the worship service. | Screengrab: YouTube/IrishForeignMinistry

This week marks the anniversary of Pope John Paul II's historic visit to Ireland, the first by a pontiff to the predominantly Catholic nation. The visit included a Mass outside Dublin that reportedly drew more than one million attendees.

The official visit, which took place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, saw John Paul II holding events in Dublin, Drogheda in County Louth, Galway, Limerick, and Knock in County Mayo.

While near Drogheda, close to the Northern Ireland border, the pope made a heartfelt appeal for peace amid the violent religious and political conflict known as "The Troubles."

"I wish to speak to all men and women engaged in violence," he said, as quoted by IrishCentral. "I appeal to you, in language of passionate pleading. On my knees, I beg you to turn away from the path of violence and return to the ways of peace."