An Taoiseach Enda Kenny presented a gift of a Harry Clarke printed canvas of the beautiful nativity window from St Patrick’s Church in Kilmaine, to His Holiness, Pope Francis, during a private audience at the Vatican on Monday. The framed canvas was inscribed as follows: "From the Nativity Window by Harry Clarke, St. Patrick's Church, Kilmaine, Co. Mayo. Presented to His Holiness Pope Francis by Enda Kenny, TD, Taoiseach of Ireland, November 28, 2016."
The Taoiseach was in the Vatican on Monday where he had a private audience with the Pope, who also confirmed on Monday that he would be visiting Ireland in 2018. The meeting was requested following the invitation to the Pope by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference to visit Ireland for the church's World Meeting of Families in two years. The last time a sitting Pope visited Ireland was in 1979, as part of that visit by Pope John Paul II he visited Knock Shrine and hopes are high that the Mayo venue is included in any visit by the pontiff in two years time.
