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Dublin: 16 °C Tuesday 21 May, 2013

President Higgins and Michael Noonan to attend Pope Francis’s inauguration

The President will represent Ireland, while the Finance Minister will attend on behalf of the Irish Government.

Image: Wanderley Massafelli/Photocall Ireland

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins and Finance Minister Michael Noonan are due to travel to the Vatican on Tuesday to attend Pope Francis’s inauguration.

Áras an Uachtaráin confirmed the President’s plans to TheJournal.ie this morning. He will be Ireland’s official representative as Jorge Bergoglio is officially installed as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Noonan will attend the service on behalf of the Irish Government.

Pope Francis’s first Mass will be held at the magnificent Sistine Chapel today but before his packed schedule gets underway, he enjoyed some private prayer this morning. The 76-year-old made a surprise stop at the Santa Maria basilica for 30 minutes of reflection with a small group of cardinals.

On being elected, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, created a number of firsts. He is the first pontiff from the New World. He is the first non-European pope in centuries. He is the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. He is also the first to pick the name Francis, something that has been described as smashing precedent. His namesake was a humble friar who dedicated his life to the poor.

And here are his first words.

-Additional reporting by AFP

FRONT PAGES: Pope Francis dominates the new and old worlds’ newspapers

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Comments (77 Comments)

  • Surely one is more than enough for our country?!

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  • Let our President attend -
    But Noonan wanting another jolly this is an utter disgrace why do Irish people tolerate this. Wasting tax payers money again. Am sure His Holiness won’t be too upset if Noonan remains on Irish soil – ah its just dawned on me Noonan has to get this jolly as he’s probably been told to stay in Ireland for St Patrick’s weekend.

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    • According to 95fm in limerick Noonan is going on Sunday to Italy

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    • Oh no. Maybe we’ll have more snow & this will put a stop to his gallop

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    • The constitution requires that the president is accompanied on trips abroad by a minister

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    • Former Cardinal and Pope-elect “Francis I”, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is accused of helping kidnap opponents of Argentina’s military junta during the 1970′s “Dirty War”, and of baby trafficking, by lawyers and members of the Plaza de Mayo human rights group. (Los Angeles Times, April 17, 2005, “Argentine Cardinal Named in Kidnapping Lawsuit”,

      http://articles.latimes.com/2005/apr/17/world/fg-cardinal17

      Besides his personal alleged criminality, Bergoglio – as a Jesuit – represents the group most responsible for the centuries-old Crimes against Humanity and Genocide for which the Jesuit Superior General was found guilty on February 25, along with Joseph Ratzinger and other Vatican officials. The Jesuit Order established the murderous Indian residential school system in North America during the mid 19th century, and has led the destruction and killing of millions of non-Catholics around the world since its inception in the mid 16th century. Under a secret oath administered to every member, the Jesuits are authorized and encouraged to kill, torture or overthrow any opponent of the Vatican and the Pope.

      http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/jesuits.htm

      These facts, the Argentine allegations, and his complicity in the global conspiracy against children enunciated in the canon law Crimen Sollicitationas, makes the new Pope particularly liable for immediate arrest and sentencing under international law and the Common Law Court verdict of February 25, 2013. The ITCCS understands that Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s election was a quick and uncontested arrangement, as evident in its rapidity: in less than two days, a record for papal elections. Bergoglio’s election makes the guilt of the Vatican and its highest officials for Crimes against Humanity all that more severe. The new Pope, as the head fiduciary officer of the Vatican, Inc., assumes that guilt and liability. Bergoglio is therefore subject to immediate arrest under the terms of the Common Law Court ORDER of March 5, 2013, issued by the International Common Law Court of Justice under the authority of jus gentium, the Law of Nations, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Accordingly, an application has been made by our Tribunal to these courts for an International Citizens Arrest Warrant, to be issued against the new Roman Pontiff, Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Pope Francis I, for Crimes against Humanity and involvement in a global criminal conspiracy based in Rome. The ITCCS will soon be issuing more background evidence on the genocidal purpose and actions of the Jesuit Order in relation to the ongoing crimes we have documented; and of the evidence of Bergoglio’s suspected crimes in Argentina.

      Issued 13 March, 2013 ITCCS Central, Brussels Links:

      http://www.eldia.com.ar/edis/20110502/acusan-cardenal-bergoglio-robo-bebes-durante-dictadura-20110502214006.htm.

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    • Former Cardinal and Pope-elect “Francis I”, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is accused of helping kidnap opponents of Argentina’s military junta during the 1970′s “Dirty War”, and of baby trafficking, by lawyers and members of the Plaza de Mayo human rights group. (Los Angeles Times, April 17, 2005, “Argentine Cardinal Named in Kidnapping Lawsuit”,

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    • Now wouldnt that be interesting if he was arrested, the other guy got out of it by the skin of his teeth. If all the above is true it is a very very stupid move by the church to elect him pope.

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    • I really don’t have the energy for the half-truths on here anymore. Mary maybe you could read my comments on last nights election story on how he actually saved the lives of the priests in question. Even if you do no doubt someone else will post this on the next story about the new Pope

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    • That’s done good copying and pasting there Mary, kudos to you

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  • I can understand Higgins going, he’s the right height for kissing rings, but Noonan?

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  • I thought the reason we elect a President is to represent our country and government abroad …. Why is Mickey Noonan going too ? This carry on is getting ridiculous ….. maybe we should ALL go ?

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  • He’d go to the opening of an Auld One’s handbag

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  • Dave 14/03/13 #

    Noonan? Seriously? Are they trying to scare the new pope before he even starts the job??

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  • Fair enough to send the President after all we are mainly a catholic country but that should be it. No need for Michael Noonan to go well.

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  • Typical shite again, Michael d I can understand but no need for noonan. No doubt he’s elsewhere on paddys day.

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  • I’m going to make a counterargument.

    We should send Noonan, and most of the Cabinet with him. While they’re smelling the incense in Rome, they can’t be doing any damage here.

    And for each minister we send, RTE must agree to send one fewer hack. At a pinch, they could just buy the pictures from Berlusconi and do the fawning voiceovers, journalists interviewing journalists, vox pops with old women etc., from Donnybrook. Everybody wins (except Miriam).

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  • Ill be packing my bags to emigrate while these traitors bleed this country dry of any penny that’s left. How can they seriously justify spending money like this when they force the real owners of the nation to hand over every hard earned cent . Wasters,if they believe in the Catholic Church they should help their neighbours first . If they don’t they have no rite being there .

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    • What’s your solution to this crippling global recession?

      How are you going to provide jobs for the many?

      How are you going to help to feed these families and get them work to pay their mortgage?

      How long more are we going to keep moaning?

      When are we going to provide working solutions and move forward?

      What are you doing? You’re going to emigrate…

      Where?

      There is a global recession and very few jobs available.

      So we get creative and do something. This type of networking got us Dell, Intel, Google etc. BIG EMPLOYERS!!!!

      Let’s be creative and positive and move on.

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  • So a man from a sinister superstitious hypocritical old cult which preaches austerity on all whilst living like kings and has a flock of arrogant apologists ready and willing to defend the cult from reasoning and truth is going over to attend the inauguration of a man from a sinister superstitious hypocritical cult which preaches austerity on all whilst living like kings and has a flock of arrogant apologists ready and willing to defend the cult from reasoning and truth?
    Yeak ok.

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  • This is a disgrace. Whatever about the president goin is fair enough. There’s no need for Noonan to be goin wasting money the country has’nt got. Why can’t he watch it on tv like everyone else? Typical government in this country, total wasters.

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  • I think the idea that Ireland Inc. is open for business and our political Heads are here representing us is a load of bull. This is a religious cermony not an I.D.A international drive. There is no business conference agenda here. There are no secretaries with specific business iteneraries attending this get together. If they want to attend , they should pay for it out of their own salaries. This is the whole point here. They get paid enough , why put down everything on the tax payer…Anyway hopefully Francesco 1 might inspire them to live more frugally.

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  • at least the two of them are in the right age group. Noonan is probably the only Cabinet minister who hasn’t slagged off the Vatican.

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  • Same old shit … After all the slavery in the laundries , the beatings and the unbelievably cruel abuse , the rape and buggery of children and the arrogant cover up of it all and the reluctance to admit any guilt whatsoever …..
    And still these 2 sad old farts head over using our money to quaff champagne and kiss the popes ring …. It really is quite a sad display and two fingers to the thousands of victims while they’re at it …. Shame on all you people who seek solace in a zombie Jewish sky fairy.

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  • Shouldn’t Noonan be busier trying to sort out the economic crisis rather than taking luxurious holidays paid for by us, the tax payers…. The people! People can barely keep their homes afloat but yet he’s spending tax money on a pointless trip? Michael D.Higgins is good enough representation. When will this country wake up?

    Absolutely ridiculous.

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    • Senator John Crown came out yesterday and said that he believes there are members of Opus Dei in the government and I’m now wondering if Noonan might be one of them or at the very least sympathetic to their secret agendas. His bully boy modus operandi (remember the Hep C scandal) is certainly a product of a Christian Brothers schooling and Opus Dei behave largely in the same manner, bullying those who don’t agree with them. I find it just a little bizarre that a Minister for Finance is going to Rome to welcome in a new Pope, President Higgins would have been enough
      http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/12/opus-dei-irish-abortion-reform?CMP=twt_gu

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  • I can understand the Pres going but not Noonan?

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  • Okay I have not read any comments yet as wanted to say what I think before knowing what you all think so here goes every one has a right to believe in what they like and no one should knock people but Ireland is in a mess money wise so how come its okay to send The president and the finance man off to this ? What about the struggling family’s the homeless the people who can’t find work the elderly the cost of living in Ireland is a joke and yet we as a country can afford this umm I think it’s very wrong. Does no one think of the people the church let down the way people where treated and even abused and lets rub there noses in it and do this. It’s wrong some people in Ireland can not afford to heat there homes feed them selfs or there family properly and no people are not work shy its very hard to get a job here. So I feel a waste of money again and what can we do about it not much we just have to sit back and take what this government does to us.

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  • Why are our elected officials pandering to a corrupt and criminal organisation that has stolen from, abused, insulted and lied to the people who said officials are supposed to represent?

    This is frankly disgusting behaviour and is absolutely inexusable. They do not represent the Irish people in this regard.

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  • What a waste of time and money. No need for it.

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  • Neither President Higgins or Minister Noonan represent loyal Catholics and therefore I won’t feel properly represented at Pope Francis’ inauguration. Surely some member of the Oireachtas who is loyal to their faith should go to Rome on Tuesday. You can red thumb me all you like, my Catholic Faith and practice mean a lot more to me than a few misguided people.

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  • Am disgusted with this. Waste of our money and shows our political backwardness. An insult to those abused by this church.

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  • President Higgins came to the Aras proclaiming himself a new voice for the people, the poor the downtrodden. He promised to raise the morale of the country. So far he has delivered nothing of consequence just the usual blather. I do not want to see my President attending one particular religion’s change of guard (or not as the case may be) ceremonies. Michael Noonan is an old fashioned dyed in the wool right wing conservative religious dinosaur and should pay for his own trip to Rome and not claim to represent the country . Enough of this bullshit.

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  • Maybe mr noonan the finance minister who is heading to Rome will get some advice from the vatican on how to get the countrys finances in order,after all they are still one of thr richest organisations in the world.

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  • To celebrate the election of the new Pope, here is a new song from Sherkin Island….. I promise you will be singing it all day………..

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URFEc7OYONM

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  • The new ‘austere’ pope. Hope he doesn’t espouse the doctrine of austerity: we’ve had enough of that from our European paymasters.

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  • I don’t understand: we’re sending the President AND a senior minister to attend the inauguration of the head of a state with a population of 836, but (in the very next article) there’s no mention of us sending ANYONE to represent us at the inauguration of the new president of a state with a population of 1.35 BILLION.
    Fcuked up priorities, there, Ireland!

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    • ps. And just by the way; not one of those 836 people had a vote in the election of that head of state.
      Or, if they did (ie if one or more of the 115 cardinals also happens to be included in the 836), it wasn’t their membership of the 836 that won them their franchise.

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  • Putting more expense on us Tax payers

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  • Al 14/03/13 #

    send the victims!

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  • Would you ever stop whinging people. It’s good for business that Noonan goes where there will be many other world leaders etc. We send our President for diplomacy and a senior politician for political reasons. Stop looking at the cost of everything and look for the value in something.

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    • Yeah Liam, it must have something to do with Francis. Politics and religion have proven to be fatal. The Vatican is a disgraced and defunct body worthy, at the very most, of the president but they can keep Noonan: as a Bilderberger, he likes keeping high company. More sinning.

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  • There is no diplomatic benefit for any public representative to go.

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  • Best of luck and enjoy the ceremony!

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  • The begrudging is in full swing this morning!!!!

    It gets tiresome to witness the continuous moaning on this service. It seems that the only opinions tolerated are the populist anti church and anti government and anti bank.

    Not one post has put forward a rational argument for/against the representation out than hopping up and down and spitting out your dummies!

    Its good manners to attend this, its good optics internationally and puts our Finance minister and President in the middle of a large group of international leaders, in a condensed space and who knows what may get said and done.

    Right now we need all the help and investment we can gather and I’d rather have them punting away internationally and networking these events than those with the money checking the online sources of info and media researching Ireland for investment and finding themselves reading this constant drivel of moaning.

    Come on people, best foot forward and give these investors a reason to come to Ireland.

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  • “Just spat my coffee all over the table” Joe you’ve answered your own question. I think I hit the raw nerve. Sadly with a mind like that I can only pray for you. Debating would be a waste of precious time.

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  • @ Keith Elliott. You’ve left out a lot of killing the church have carried out over the centuries. Here’s a list of a few.
    Witch-burning
    Heretic burning
    The Spanish Inquisition
    The persecution of the Cathars who were rounded up and tortured and burned wholesale.
    The decimation of the peoples and the destruction of whole cultures in South America (some irony in the new pope being from South America)
    The persecution of the Hugenots in France.
    Have I left any out?

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