Following the death of Pope Francis, aged 88, we took a look back at the time the pontiff lived in Ireland’s capital city.
Francis became Pope in 2013, breaking many firsts in the Vatican’s long history.
He was the first pope from the Society of Jesus and the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. He was also the first pope born and raised outside of Europe since the eighth-century.
But did you know that Pope Francis even once lived in Dublin?
Studying in Ireland’s capital city – around the time of Pope John Paul II’s visit
In January 1980, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who would later become known as Pope Francis, arrived in Ireland. Here, the 43-year-old would study at the Jesuit Centre in the Milltown Institute in Dublin 6.
He landed on the island just a few months after Pope John Paul II’s historic visit in 1979, which marked the first time a Pope ever visited the island.
With plans to immerse himself in an English language course with a local teacher, Bergoglio was one of many Jesuit students from around the world to attend the prestigious College of Philosophy.
A wonderful view of the Dublin mountains – a fantastic place to stay
Speaking of the time Pope Francis lived in Dublin, Rev Fergus O’Donoghue SJ told Irish Central, “What is likely is that his room would have had wonderful views over the city or the Dublin Mountains.
“He might have found this inspiring being a man who loves nature.”
He added, “He was on a sabbatical when he came to Ireland so it was an ideal place for him.”
A historic visit to Ireland – remembered by people across the island
Five years after taking over the role from his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI in August 2018, Pope Francis became the first pontiff to visit Ireland since John Paul II in 1979.
He visited the island for two days, during which he paid a visit to Knock shrine in Mayo, met with victims of clerical abuse, and visited a homeless centre run by the Capuchin Fathers.
His historic visit concluded with an open air Sunday Mass in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
