A CATHOLIC priest from Co Down has described his honour at concelebrating Mass with Pope Francis.
Fr Aidan McAleenan, who is originally from Banbridge, said it was an "amazing feeling" to be among those taking part in the Mass in Philadelphia yesterday.
The 52-year-old, who was ordained in St Patrick's Church in Banbridge in 2005, said it also brought back "fond memories" of attending the papal visit of Pope John Paul II to Galway in 1979.
The pontiff yesterday marked the end of his six-day trip to the United States with a Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the American city before flying back to Rome.
Pope Francis came to Philadelphia to close the World Meeting of Families, a Vatican-sponsored conference of more than 18,000 people from around the world.
Fr McAleenan last night described his delight of being part of the Mass along with members of his African-American parish he had brought with him.
"We are just around 100 ft away from the altar, being one of thousands of priests to be be here, watching the Pope saying mass to two million people worldwide is unbelievable," he said.
"The security is very tight, there is a very heavy police presence, but it is wonderful to be here.
"It is an amazing feeling and everything Pope Francis has done while he has been here, talking about dialogue, has been fantastic.
"He is very inclusive of everyone.
"It is an honour to be here and brings back many fond memories of when Pope John Paul II visited Ireland in 1979.
"I was part of a group from Banbridge parish that travelled to Galway racetrack for his papal visit."
Fr McAleenan has been working with Afro-American parishioners at St Columba's Church in Oakland, near Berkeley, for the past six years.
He recently helped students affected by the Berkeley balcony deaths in California in June.
