Ireland

Pope Francis to recognise Knock Shrine with special status

Knock Shrine
Knock Shrine Knock Shrine

KNOCK in Co Mayo will next week be officially recognised by Pope Francis as an 'International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine'.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation will recognised its 'unique status' on March 19 - the Feast of St Joseph.

The Pope has declared 2021 the year of St Joseph.

In August 1879, 15 people said they saw the saint appear on the gable wall of Knock church along with the Virgin Mary, St John the Evangelist and the Lamb of God.

Pope John Paul II visited the site in 1979 and St Teresa of Calcutta in 1993.

Pope Francis also visited Knock Shrine in 2018 as part of the World Meeting of Families celebrations and will deliver a special message via video link during Mass at 7.30pm on Friday week.

The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam and Fr Richard Gibbons, rector of Knock Shrine, who said they are "truly grateful for this recognition from Pope Francis".

He said it is a "historic milestone for Ireland's National Marian and Eucharistic Shrine".

The Triduum will be streamed live on the Knock Shrine website www.knockshrine.ie and on Facebook @knockshrine on Friday March 19 at 7.30pm, Saturday March 20 at 7.30pm and concluding on Sunday, March 21 at noon.