A papal visit to Ireland could be on the cards after Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed he has been invited to attend the World Meeting of Families, writes Elaine Loughlin in Brussels.

Speaking after the EU Leader’s Summit in Brussels today, Mr Kenny said he had met with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who confirmed the invite and added that Government would do everything to welcome Pope Francis to Ireland.

The World Meeting of Families 2018 will be held in Dublin, but events will also take place in other centres around Ireland.

Mr Kenny said: “He [Archbishop Martin] confirmed to me that the bishops have invited Pope Francis to come to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families in August of 2018.

“If the Pope decides to accept the invitation I assured him that the Government would respond appropriately, would approve of that and would welcome Pope Francis and would make all the arrangements to treat him in a proper and respectful manner as befits his position as head of the Catholic Church.

“It’s a matter for the Pope himself to decide if he wishes to accept the invitation,” Mr Kenny said.