Skip to content

NI people remember 'unique' Pope with 'sorrow and grief'

BBC The book of condolence is being signed by the mayor with his gold sash on. Beside him is a priest wearing a black suit and white priest collar. The book and a picture of the pope are on a table with a blue table cloth featuring a Belfast City Hall print on it. BBC
Belfast's Lord Mayor Micky Murray signed the book of condolence at Belfast City Hall

Books of condolence have been opened across Northern Ireland following the death of Pope Francis.

Members of the public can sign Belfast's book of condolence at the city hall or online, while a special council meeting to reflect on the Pope's legacy will take place in Belfast on Thursday.

In Londonderry, the public can leave a written message at Derry's Guildhall and the Alley Theatre in Strabane, or online.

People remembering the late Pope described him as "unique" and spoke of his "compassion and bravery".

In Belfast, Lord Mayor Micky Murray officially opened the book while Fr Tim Bartlett, the main organiser of the late Pope's visit to Ireland in 2018, was in attendance.

"It was important that we allow a space for citizens of Belfast to come and leave their messages of condolence on the passing of Pope Francis," the mayor told BBC News NI.

"I think he will be well remembered for how he addressed marginalisation across the world."

Tim is standing in front of an elaborate Belfast City Hall great hall with three arcs and a black and white swivel design floor. He is smiling at the camera and he has brown short hair and is wearing a white priest collar.
Fr Tim Bartlett, parish priest of St Mary's, Belfast attended the opening of the book of condolences at Belfast City Hall

Fr Tim Bartlett, Parish Priest of St Mary's, Belfast said he was "immensely grateful" to the Lord Mayor and the council for taking this initiative.

"I think it's a very profound expression of their concern for the grief and sadness felt, not only by the Catholic community, but more widely," he said.

City Hall will also be lit up in the papal colours of yellow and white on Saturday to coincide with the day of his funeral.

Belfast remembers 'a very special person'

Jack has long brown hair and is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a pastel yellow t-shirt. He is stood in a hall with marble walls and floors but the background is blurred.
Jack came to Belfast City Hall to pay his respects to Pope Francis

One of the first people to sign the book in Belfast was 10-year-old Jack.

He said Pope Francis was especially kind to young people during his papacy, and it was important to remember him.

"He was one of the most progressive Popes and I think that's a good thing," he told BBC News NI.

Joanne Harbinson has her dark hair tied back and is wearing a white lanyard and a pink jumper. She is smiling at the camera. She is standing in front of white and grey marble walls but the background is blurred.
Pope Francis was a man of the people, says Joanne Harbinson

Joanne Harbinson, originally from the Philippines, came to City Hall on her lunch break to pay her respects.

She was emotional as she reflected on Pope Francis's legacy.

"We're a very Catholic country in the Philippines and he was a Pope of the people," she said.

"He is not a materialistic type of Pope, that's why I loved him. I'm going to miss him so much, and so will the Filipino people."

Kevin Davey is wearing a grey cap and wearing a light grey backpack and a grey t-shirt. He has a grey goatie and is smiling at the camera. He is standing in front of grey and white marble walls but the background is blurred.
Kevin Davey from north Belfast says the Pope was a "lovely person"

Kevin Davey travelled to Phoenix Park in Dublin when the Pope last visited Ireland in 2018, which was a special occasion for him.

"I'm very emotional to tell you the truth… he was a good man."

Colin Flinn also took some time to write in the book of condolence.

"This man has been such a hero in people's eyes… I am glad that he came amongst us, now let him rest in peace."

Derry City and Strabane District Council On the left is a candle, lit with white flowers on the surface beside a picture of Pope Francis in Rome with his hand waving. The book of condolences is in the centre of the photo, it is black with a black pen beside it. On the right, there are white roses in a vase. Derry City and Strabane District Council
Lilian Seenoi-Barr encouraged the public to use the book to share their personal experience of what Pope Francis meant to them

In a statement, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Lilian Seenoi-Barr said she offered "deepest sympathies" to Archbishop Eamon Martin, the clergy, and all members of the Catholic Church.

She said there had been a "huge outpouring of sorrow and grief" across Derry and Strabane since Pope Francis' passing on Monday.

"The compassion, humility and bravery he exhibited during his papacy had an impact on the lives of so many people locally and I want to give the public an outlet to record their feelings and sympathy," she added.

Tyrone parish priest who met Pope Francis

Peter has short blondy browny hair and is wearing a priest collar and grey navy jumper. He is standing outside a church looking building with 'no parking' blue sign behind him.
Fr Peter McAnenly was in Dungannon to sign the book of condolence to Pope Francis

Fr Peter McAnenly, parish priest of Termonmaguirc, was in Dungannon to sign the book of condolence to Pope Francis.

Fr McAnenly met Pope Francis on a number of occasions and had an audience with him last September in Rome.

"It was a privilege and a blessing just to be in his presence and there was something just unique and special about the man."

Peter is signing a book of condolences that is black and beside it is white roses and a black and white picture of Pope Francis waving.
Fr Peter McAnenly said Pope Francis was "unique" and "special" when he met him

He said: "Pope Francis has been a wonderful servant for the church."

Fr McAnenly added that his own parishioners were shocked to hear the news of Pope Francis' death the day after he greeted and offered "us all a happy Easter".

"But I think there is a real sense of gratitude for the man that he was and for the wonderful legacy that he has left."

Sadness and gratitude in Rome

Reuters Three priests dressed in white standing at St. Peter's Basilica with crowds blurred in the distance Reuters
Priests arrive at St. Peter's Basilica
Catherine Morrison
BBC News NI, in Rome

The second phase of Pope Francis' funeral is underway at the Vatican.

Wednesday sees a very public mourning begin.

His coffin was brought in procession to St Peter's Basilica against a backdrop of breathtaking choral song.

St Peter's Square filled up with pilgrims queuing from early to get the chance to walk past Pope Francis' coffin and pay their final respects.

Many looked visibly moved as the spectacle unfolded in front of them, there was applause when the coffin entered the Basilica.

'Pilgrims with smartphones'

Martin is looking to the side of the camera at the reporter. He is wearing brown sunglasses and a cream suit. Behind him is crowds and St Peter's Basilica.
Commentator Martin O'Brien queued to pay his respects to Pope Francis inside St Peter's Basilica

Commentator Martin O'Brien queued to pay his respects to Pope Francis inside St Peter's Basilica, alongside other "pilgrims with their smartphones taking pictures and videos of Pope Francis in the coffin".

He told BBC News NI that it was a "very moving experience" and that Pope Francis seemed "at peace".

"I paid my respects for someone I had a lot of regard for and someone who steered the church with great wisdom and insight."

Irish in Rome

A man with grey spiky hair and a beard in an Ireland rugby jersey with his arm around a girl with long blond hair and a grey tshirt. Behind them is crowds and old Roman buildings.
Damien Doyle and his daughter Meghan are on holiday in Rome with their family

Damien Doyle from Dublin described the last few days of his family holiday to Rome as "surreal".

"It wasn't our intention when we booked, it's nice for the kids to be here. As far as their concerned this is the only pope they have seen, so it's strange for them", he told BBC News NI.

"When they get older and have their own kids they can tell them about it", he added.

Requiem Mass to take place in Knock

Reuters A picture of Pope Francis dressed in white is on display on a church altar. A woman is standing before the altar taking a photograph with her phone. Another woman can be seeing praying in the foreground.Reuters
People pray for Pope Francis at the Knock Shrine, in Country Mayo in the Republic of Ireland

Members of the public have been paying tribute to Pope Francis at services across the island of Ireland.

On Wednesday, a special Requiem Mass will take place in Knock Basilica, County Mayo, at 19:30 local time.

Tens of thousands of people braved the heavy rain for a glimpse of Pope Francis when he visited the shrine in 2018.

During his visit to Knock, Pope Francis said no-one could fail to be moved by stories of those who "suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred by painful memories," and reiterated his wish to see justice served.

When celebrating Mass in Phoenix Park during the same visit, he listed a litany of different types of abuse and mistreatment inflicted on Irish people by Church figures, and the cover-up of sex crimes.

On each occasion he asked for forgiveness, the congregation applauded.

Pope Francis followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who visited Dublin and Knock in September 1979.

What is special about Knock?

The Marian Shrine of Knock is a well-known place of Catholic pilgrimage in the west of Ireland.

An estimated 1.5 million pilgrims from across Ireland, and across the world, flock to the shrine every year to pray at the place where an apparition of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is said to have appeared in August 1879.

Following the apparition, miraculous cures were reported. The first was that of Delia Gordon, a 12-year-old girl who had been deaf and suffered horrific pain.

It is said that her parents took her to the shrine where she knelt before the place where the apparition was seen. Her mother picked a piece of cement from the gable wall, blessed it and put it on her daughter's ear. The pain went immediately and she was no longer deaf.

Since the apparition, pilgrims have come to Knock in search of healing, reconciliation and peace. Some of them are praying for a cure.