Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The main question to consider in debating this motion is whether the invitation should be issued to Pope Francis as a distinguished visitor to the House. The invitation would, of course, have to be issued on behalf of the State. I very much support such an invitation for several reasons. First, Pope Francis is the leader of one of the largest religious denominations in the world, with 770 million of its adherents residing outside western Europe, in Africa, Asia and the Americas. That is an important factor, because we tend to be very much preoccupied with issues relating to the Western world and not the broader issues that dominate the global world.

It is important to bear in mind that any discussion of the Catholic Church and Christianity in general must take on board the issue of power. We are used to dealing with multinational power, governmental power, corporate power - the types of powers which often are exercised without the interests of the individual being at their heart. One of the main principles of Christianity - for the Catholic Church, Anglican Church and other churches with a Christian ethos - is the importance of the individual in society and the importance of individual rights. I disagree with Senator Ó Murchú that our impression of Pope Francis is largely based on a media representation. On the contrary, he has been represented by his own words. I have in front of me an edition of America Magazine containing an extensive interview in which he outlines his position on a wide range of issues. His pronouncements on poverty, the importance of the individual and of what he calls "discernment" - what might more usually be referred to as "conscience" - in terms of how individuals, societies and governments exercise their power, are very enlightening. As a social democrat, I find what he has to say in general terms about how governments and societies should exercise their conscience towards individuals to be very persuasive. It is a very important message which needs to go out to the world.

In many of his public statements, the Pope has touched broadly on the failings of modern capitalism. It is not surprising that these pronouncements have not been enormously popular among some of the more right-wing groups in the United States, for example. Certainly, he has not found a unanimous welcome in that country. I do not support extreme right-wing religious dogma, irrespective of whence it comes. I admire the Pope for what he has done and said in regard to the importance of dealing with poverty, of not allowing multinational interests such as bankers, for the sake of argument, to dominate the international agenda. His message should be welcomed by all. Given that he has 770 million followers outside the Western world, it is important that he is making statements in a scenario where Uganda, for example, has imposed the death penalty on homosexuals. It is an important point to bear in mind in terms of where the man is coming from and the context of his statements.

It is important to acknowledge who the Pope is as a person, as eloquently described by Senator Norris. He is a humble man. He is a man who has made his position very clear in terms of what he believes to be the important issues. He has stated that how we respond to the poorest of people in our society is the most important consideration. Across the spectrum of issues, whether same-sex marriage, the role of women and so on, I am an adamant advocate of equality. It is important to bear in mind that one does not turn an institution like the Catholic Church around in 24 hours, but the Pope's self-awareness on these issues is clear. He has mentioned, for instance, that he has been challenged on not being sufficiently dogmatic on the issue of homosexuality. His response was that he was nobody to judge.

While I might argue with his views on the role of women and in respect of homosexual rights, I am of the view that he has moved the church in the right direction. He is caught up in an official position but that should not blind us to the moves he is making in a wider sense. Neither must we forget the emphasis he is placing on issues I believe to be of great importance, namely, the role of the individual and our responsibility to every individual and in the context of world power. As a social democrat, I do not believe a rising tide raises all boats and, therefore, I do not believe in a trickle-down approach. It is a great source of comfort to me that someone as important as Pope Francis does not believe in it either.