The flash mob was really a very organized bunch of young pro-lifers. Decked out in colorful T-shirts, they were singing and dancing about the sanctity of human life. Irish Catholicism could hardly be described as exuberant, but this is what a new young generation of committed Catholics has imbibed from World Youth Day: a deft ability to combine prayerful if staid processions with vivacious displays of faith that often include a strong social message.

Many of those young people attending or volunteering at the International Eucharistic Congress cite World Youth Day as a primary influence in the development of their faith. Many are affiliated with groups such as Youth 2000, Catholic Youth Care, Taize or gospel choirs. Continue reading

Martin was mixed in his remarks. He spoke with deep regret and sorrow for the past but held out hope for the future, saying the Church is on the way to being renewed, but he warned it is likely to be a "lengthy journey".

Calling to mind all who suffered abuse at the hands of those they trusted, Martin called the Church to a spirit of repentance and asked the 20,000 participants to remember each of the victims in the silence of their hearts.

The archbishop also prayed for a renewal in priestly and religious life.

As well as praying for the victims, Sunday's ceremonies also featured the unveiling of a symbolic 'healing stone' with a poem written by a victim of a pedophile priest.

Around 50 protesters picketed the Congress' opening and used the occasion to continue to call for the resignation of Primate of all Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, one of a number of Church officials who made made aware of sex abuse being carried out by pedophile preist Brendan Smyth.

Irish coordinator of the Irish Survivors of Child Abuse, John Kelly, said the Eucharistic Congress was a chance for the Catholic Church to move forward, but that it would not happen until Cardinal Brady resigned.

In a sign that 'all is not well', a survey published in the Irish Times found that just 38% believe Ireland today would be in worse shape without its dominant church, 40% did not even knew the Eucharistic Congress was happening in Ireland and only 4% of Ireland's Catholics intended to attend the Congress.

Mixed among the shared experiences of the Eucharistic Congress' first day on Twitter are many calls for people to boycott the Congress and show solidarity with 'survivors' the Congress permeate Twitter.

People from 123 countries will take part in the International Eucharistic Congress, an event that happens every four years.

Sources

• The Journal
• Huffington Post
• Associated Press
• Irish Times
• Image: Twitter.com/shameofireland

Before taking up his post in Rome, Card. Ouellet was Archbishop of Quebec, Canada, which hosted the last Congress in 2008.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin and International Eucharistic Congress secretary general Fr Kevin Doran were among the delegation that travelled to meet the pontiff.

The delegation this morning presented the pope with a bell, the ringing of which is seen as a symbolic call to Catholics to gather for the congress, as well as a bowl of shamrock and a commemorative medal.

"The pope blessed the bell, rang it vigorously, and paused to admire the icons as Archbishop Martin explained their significance," Fr Doran said after the meeting in St Peter's Square.

The delegation this morning presented the pope with a bell, the ringing of which is seen as a symbolic call to Catholics to gather for the congress, as well as a bowl of shamrock and a commemorative medal.

The congress, the 50th to be held, will take place from June 10-17th and will mark the 80th anniversary of the 1932 Eucharistic Congress which represented a high point of Catholicism in Ireland.

Speaking on RTE radio, Martin said that Pope Benedict is still considering an invitation to travel to Ireland, but added that the Holy Father thinks "his coming would have to fit into the overall timetable of the renewal of the Church in Ireland."

Martin wholly agreed with the Pope's assessment, that at this point Ireland is not prepared to receive a visit from the Pontiff.

"We have to see and understand ourselves where we want to go with the Catholic Church. I think a papal visit will only have a significance when many of these issues of our past are fully addressed", Martin said.

A papal visit to Ireland became an on-again off-again likelihood in 2011 when it was said he would attend the 2012 Eucharistic Congress, but the sexual abuse scandal erupted again eventuating in some rather 'stinging' comments by the Irish Prime Minister.

As things quietened, later in the year, the government hinted it might issue a formal invitation if the Pope expressed an interest.

Archbishop Martin did not rule out the possibility that the Pope could visit in 2012, but suggested that the Irish Church should show significant signs of renewal before a visit could be scheduled.

Sources

• Irish Times
• Image: Parish of Clane and Ranchcoffey