Northern Ireland

20,000 tickets remain for Pope's Phoenix Park Mass

Only 20,000 tickets remain for mass with the pope in Dublin's Phoenix Park, next month (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini).
Only 20,000 tickets remain for mass with the pope in Dublin's Phoenix Park, next month (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini). Only 20,000 tickets remain for mass with the pope in Dublin's Phoenix Park, next month (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini).

Only 20,000 tickets remain for Mass with the Pope in Dublin's Phoenix Park, next month.

Half a million tickets were released last Monday at 5am, as well as a further 45,000 tickets for the papal visit to Knock shrine which were snapped up immediately.

The Pastoral Congress, which will take place in the RDS, from August 22 to 24, is also booked out, with over 82,000 people expected to be in attendance.

Pope Francis’ visit on August 25 and 26 comes as part of the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) which is an international event organised by the Catholic Church every three years.

Secretary General of the WMOF2018, Fr Tim Bartlett said he was "hugely encouraged" by the response from the public regarding the Pope's visit.

He added: "I think it will be of great benefit to Ireland as a whole. There will be huge international media interest in Pope Francis’ presence for the WMOF2018 and the event itself. The event itself will bring thousands of international visitors and the eyes of the world will be on Ireland.

"There is no doubt that the presence of Pope Francis in Ireland for the WMOF2018 will be a memorable and historic occasion.

"We have been preparing for the WMOF2018 for almost three years. This period of preparation has offered us an opportunity to change the conversation, to focus instead on the global issues, the common human values and mutual interest between Church and society that converge in working together for the wellbeing of the family."