Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The House rightly had full expressions of sympathy on the death of Pope John Paul II on the week commencing 11 April 2005. It is only proper to reflect on the election of Pope Benedict XVI on 19 April and to highlight this as a significant international event. The Pope is not just the leader of the Roman Catholic Church but is a figurehead throughout the world.

I welcome the Taoiseach's invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit Ireland at his first opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II in 1979. To the critics of the new Pope, a Pope is unlike any other man. He had a life before he became Pope and will have one after his election. I wish him well in his difficult job as the new pontiff and hope he will reflect all of the strands comprising the Roman Catholic Church, people of other faiths and those of none.