Pope Francis is praying for Good Friday Agreement to be ‘consolidated’
Good Monday #GoodMonday
Pope Francis today prayed that the Good Friday agreement, responsible for ending decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland, can be ‘consolidated’ to benefit the people of all of Ireland.
The pontiff, who was hospitalised with bronchitis at the end of March, was speaking about the 1998 agreement in his noon address on Easter Monday to tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, ended 30 years of conflict known as the Troubles, in which more than 3,500 people were killed.
Signed 25 years ago today, Westminster also devolved powers to Northern Ireland, giving them control over key areas such as education and health, although this has not been in place since February last year due to power-sharing concerns from the DUP.
Speaking about the historic peace deal, the 86-year-old pontiff said: ‘Today marks the 25th anniversary of the so-called Good Friday agreement, or of Belfast, which brought an end to the violence that for decades troubled Northern Ireland.
Pope Francis today prayed that the Good Friday agreement, responsible for ending decades of bloodshed in Northern Ireland, can be ‘consolidated’ to benefit all of Ireland
The pope’s comments come ahead of Joe Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland where he will mark the 25th year of the Good Friday Agreement
‘In a spirit of gratitude I pray to the God of peace so that what was achieved in that historic step can be consolidated to benefit all the men and women of the island of Ireland.’
The pope’s comments come after he presided at a solemn Easter Sunday Mass yesterday after he was forced him to skip an outdoor service on Friday as a precaution to his recent illness.
He was taken to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on March 29 after suffering with breathing difficulties. After doctors established he had contracted a mild case of pneumonia, he made a rapid recovery and was discharged in time for the hectic Easter schedule.
The pope’s prayers come ahead of US President Joe Biden meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast tomorrow to launch several days of high-profile commemorations.
President Biden will reflect the vital role the United States played in brokering the agreement.
Later in the week, the American leader, who is intensely proud of his Irish heritage and the US’s role in the peace accord, will visit his ancestors’ home town of Ballina in Mayo.
The commemorations come amid a heightened terror threat in Northern Ireland, which power-sharing in Stormont remaining collapsed amid post-Brexit tensions.
The Democratic Unionist Party is still refusing to rejoin the power-sharing executive in the Stormont Assembly, citing its opposition to the Brexit deal covering the border with Ireland.
In the last elections for the assembly, Sinn Fein replaced the DUP as the largest party for the first time, allowing it to choose a First Minister.
President Biden will mark the 25th year of the Good Friday Agreement alongside Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
Earlier this year, the UK Government and EU unveiled the Windsor Framework to mitigate some of the trading difficulties which had been caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
While the DUP says the framework has gone some way to address its concerns, it feels some significant problems remain and has made clear its boycott will continue until it secures further assurances.
Last month, Britain’s MI5 intelligence agency increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to ‘severe’ – meaning an attack was considered highly likely.
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