Pilgrim Ways

also took it from there to other countries of Europe. It is difficult to look at those ruins merely as a monument of the past; whole generations of Europe owe to them the light of the Gospel and the structural framework of their culture. Those ruins are still charged with a great mission. They still constitute a great challenge. they still speak of that fullness of life to which Christ has called us. It is difficult for a pilgrim to arrive at those places without those traces of the apparently dead past revealing to him a permanent and everlasting dimension of life. Here is Ireland: at the heart of the perennial mission of the Church, which St.Patrick started.”

Drogheda John Paul went on to describe how he had followed as a pilgrim in the footsteps of Patrick, first in the direction of the primatial See of Armagh and Drogheda, where the relics of St.Oliver Plunkett, Bishop and martyr, had been displayed. St Oliver was dragged through the streets of London before being hung drawn and quartered at Tyburn, where his memory is recalled in the Tyburn chapel of the martyrs (see Chapter Thirteen). The Pope‟s pilgrimage led him on to many liturgical celebrations and to the celebration of the Eucharist at Dublin, Galway, Knock, Maynooth and Limerick. He ended by recalling the people he had met, from Presidents to school pupils, priests, religious sisters, missionaries, married couples, parents, young people, the sick and disabled people: “let them all remember that I was present in their midst as a pilgrim...with head bent and grateful heart, seeking together with them, the ways that lead to the future...”. For me, the most moving point during the papal visit was the appeal which John Paul made at Drogheda for peace and reconciliation. Drogheda is in the Archdiocese of Armagh: “so it is towards this foundation here in the Primatial See of Armagh that I first direct my pilgrim steps. The See of Armagh is the Primatial See because it is the See of St.Patrick. The Archbishop of Armagh is Primate of All Ireland today because he is the Comharba Padraig , the successor of St.Patrick, the first bishop of Armagh.”

Hill of Slane Not far from where the Pope gave his address, on the Hill of Slane, Patrick lit, for the first time in Ireland, the Paschal Fire so that the light of Christ might shine forth on all of Ireland and unite all of its people in the love of one Jesus Christ. Patrick would have used the words of the Easter liturgy greeting Christ as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all things. It was here that Pope John Paul urged his listeners to redouble their efforts to “light up the darkness of these years of trial.” Speaking directly to those engaged in terrorism he said: “I appeal to you, in language of passionate pleading. On my knees I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of peace. You may claim to seek justice. I too believe in justice and seek justice. But violence only delays the day of justice.

Violence destroys the work of justice. Further violence will only drag down to ruin the land you claim to love and the values you claim to cherish. In the name of God I beg you: return to Christ, who died so that men might live in forgiveness and peace. He is waiting for you, longing for each one of you to come to him so that He may say to each of you: your sins are forgiven; go in peace.” The Pope called for pardon and for peace. “I came to Drogheda today on a great mission of peace and reconciliation. I come as a pilgrim of peace. To Catholics, to Protestants, my message is peace and love. May no Irish Protestant think that the pope is an enemy, a danger or a threat. My desire is that instead Protestants would see in me a friend and a brother in Christ. Do not lose trust that this visit of mine may be fruitful, that this voice of mine may be listened to. And even if it were not listened to, let history record that at a difficult moment in the experience of the people of Ireland, the bishop of Rome set foot in