“The Pope said he would like to come, but we know that the Papal schedule is finalised closer to the event, and many things may change in the meanwhile”, said Mgr. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, in response to a question about the possibility of Pope Francis participating in the World Meeting of Families, which will be held in the Irish capital from 22 to 26 August 2018. “Preparations are ongoing, and we hope that the Pope will come, but it is too early to know if he will attend”, Mgr. Martin continued. At the press conference for the presentation of the event, held at the Vatican today, there was also a question about the likelihood of a Papal visit to Northern Ireland: “We would like the Pope’s schedule to include a visit to Northern Ireland too”, Mgr. Martin answered. However, since “there is no schedule yet, this matter has not yet been discussed”. “The Pope has a great ability to perform gestures of reconciliation”, the Archbishop of Dublin recalled. “When the talks about the trip resume, the Pope will probably surprise us all with a symbolic gesture of reconciliation”.