Photos: Ireland’s Catholics keep the faith ahead of Pope’s visit

In Ireland, the proportion of Catholics fell to 78 percent in the most recent census of 2016 from a peak of 95 percent in 1961. Ahead of Pope Francis visit to Ireland this week, the first by a Pope in almost 40 years that have transformed the once staunchly Catholic country into a far more secular and liberal society, many practicing Irish Catholics hope that the visit will bring back those that abandoned the church after its standing and influence collapsed over a string of clerical child sex abuse scandals.

Updated on: Aug 23, 2018 12:47 PM IST

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Sister Angela Finegan looks out of the church window at St Mary’s Abbey in Glencairn, Ireland. “I am so excited about the day, to be in the presence of this good and holy leader of our Church... It will be a great joy and blessing. Especially in the days when the presence of God and the life of the Church are hidden in our fast-paced society,” said Sister Angela. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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Shopkeeper Bernie Byrne, 74, looks out from his shop in Knock, Ireland. His grandfather Dominic was one of at least twenty-two people that claimed to see Mary, Joseph and John the Evangelist hovering near the local church in August 1879. Francis will pray at the Knock shrine as part of his two-day visit, the first by a Pope in almost 40 years. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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A statue of the Virgin Mary looks out from a shop in Knock. “Houses are being painted and streets are being scrubbed... trying to get everything ready for him, even though it’s only a short visit,” said Bernie, who runs a shop selling religious goods. “Because he is such a humble man, and a nice man, everybody is dying to have a look at him.” (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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Religion is still deeply embedded in the face of the Irish countryside - roadside grottos with statues of the Virgin Mary a feature of almost every Irish town and village, with most erected in 1954 when the Vatican called for a Marian year of celebration and devotion. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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Sister Marie Fahy walks through the farm in St Mary's Abbey. The proportion of Catholics fell to 78% in the most recent census of 2016 from a peak of 95% in 1961. Many of those no longer practice, as seen by dwindling mass attendances and the fact that only half of all marriages last year were Catholic ceremonies compared to over 90% 20 years ago. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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A nun stands in front of a scene of the crucifix of Jesus in the Marian Shrine town of Knock. “The church would have to change to accommodate younger people. Possibly, more than likely, they will have to ordain women priests because they have no priests at the moment to succeed the older priests that are here,” said Tom Byrne. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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The stage where Pope Francis will lead Mass for over half a million people is under construction at the Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland. Francis will be the second pope to visit Knock after Pope John Paul II said mass to a crowd of around 450,000 there in 1979. Organisers are expecting a crowd of around 45,000 this time around. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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Joe Towell, 68, who remembers the “euphoric” scenes in Phoenix park 39 years ago when Pope John Paul II prayed there, seen with his mother at his home in Dublin. Excited about the visit of “another extraordinary type of pope”, he sees Francis as bridging a generational gap between the conservative and liberal wings of the church. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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A young pilgrim reads on Croagh Patrick holy mountain during an annual Catholic pilgrimage. “He’s still preaching the same gospel as they’ve all been preaching. He’s just got a little more understanding of the present way people are feeling,” Towell said. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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For many, the visit provides a boost to the faithful who are struggling with a social landscape changed beyond recognition by votes allowing abortion and gay marriage. Ireland became the first country to adopt same-sex marriage by popular vote in a landslide 2015 referendum and last year ended one of the world’s strictest abortion regimes by an even larger majority of 66%. (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)

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Pilgrims ascend and descend Croagh Patrick mountain. “A lot of Catholics have gone a-la-carte, but being Catholic is very serious,” said Marie Campbell, who joined thousands scaling the mountain in honour of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. “Our Catholic faith stands for life. It’s the very centre of being Catholic. We cherish life, life is sacred, and a lot of Catholics need to be reminded of these things.” (Clodagh Kilcoyne / REUTERS)