Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am reminded today of the imagery of the acorn and the great oak. It is possible this motion is the acorn but it certainly has the potential to become the great oak. That is why I commend Senator Norris. I must admit that when he first circulated a note to us all asking whether we would support it, I had a certain doubt in my mind as to how it might be perceived or even be ridiculed, like The Skibbereen Eagle and the Tsar. All of those things went through my mind, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised that any worthwhile development has to start from a premise of openness. That is precisely what Senator Norris has done here. I listened to the Senator's contribution and one would have to be inspired by it. He finished by saying he would be humbled to be in the presence of Pope Francis. I do not mean he would be humbled as a person, rather, his point is the mere fact of being able to engage with Pope Francis, what he stands for, what he believes in and, indeed, the general perception which is out there at the moment of Pope Francis.

The Pope has a very difficult task, there is no question of that. We are at a crossroads, but it is not only the church that is at a crossroads because society is at a crossroads and Ireland is at a crossroads. This is not for any particular issue. It can be an economic issue, an issue of deprivation or an issue of a lack of human rights, but there is a crossroads. We have two choices. Either we stick in that position or we endeavour to put the head above the parapet and decide which road we want to go on.

I have come to the conclusion that there is no reason at all that this invitation should not be progressed. I believe it will make it easier for officialdom to handle it by having it come from this Assembly. It is a good starting point in itself. We only know of Pope Francis from the media because we have never met him, and I am sure some may look on it differently from others. However, in the main, there is one central theme coming across from his papacy, which is that he is a humble man. When he should have been at a ceremonial occasion, he decided he would visit a prison and meet the prisoners. I do not believe this was gimmickry.

I am convinced he is genuine in his approach to these matters. Since becoming Pope, he has gone out onto the streets - incommunicado, so to speak - to meet poor people. Surely that is what Christianity is all about.