'He touched the hearts of a lot of people': Longford folk have fond memories of meeting the late Pope Francis

Warm tributes have been paid to Pope Francis by Longfordians following his death on Monday and some described him as a man who was adored and admired and 'who touched the hearts of people'.

The pontiff (88), who was battling pneumonia and what were described by the Vatican as 'complex' health conditions, died at 7.35am on Monday morning.

Longford author Vincent Doyle was praised by the Vatican for his passion for writing the first book in history on the children of priests and he met Pope Francis more than a decade ago.

He said he was 'grateful' to Pope Francis for being so 'receptive' and listening to him and opening doors for people in his position.

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Mr Doyle (41), who hails from Longford town is the son of Fr JJ Doyle who served in Ardagh and Edgeworthstown throughout the 1980s and 1990s, was invited by the Vatican to be part of a global study into the 'phenomenon'.

Fr Doyle died from lung cancer in 1995.

But it was not until 2011 that Vincent was shocked to discover that Fr Doyle, a priest he knew very well, was his dad.

He realised there were no mechanisms in place to support people in similar situations and in 2012 he established a website - copinginternational.com.

The website was subsequently funded by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

Also read: Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland provided ‘powerful moment’ for abuse survivors

"Pope Francis was very receptive and he completely knew the struggle and the Vatican paid for the entire trip because we were a charity in our infancy so they hosted us, brought us over and treated us very well," Mr Doyle said. "I met him and his exact words to me when the person introduced me to him  were 'Cie cie I know'.

"Then there was a silence and I gave him the letter and he read the letter and he put it into his hand and he looked me straight in the eyes and he put his hand on my shoulder and he said 'I will read, I will read' and the following week the whole thing was approved. 

“So he did not waste any time, which was very against the grain of the Vatican.

“The Vatican works in decades not years or months and I had it in a week which was a happy shock to me," Mr Doyle added.

Mr Doyle credited Pope Francis for his intervention.

“He opened up the door to various dicasteries (church departments)  and that was the real beauty of what he did.” 

In 2017, the psychotherapist was behind new guidelines entitled 'Principles of Responsibility regarding priests who father children while in ministry' that were established by the Catholic Church in relation to supporting children whose fathers were priests.

In 2014, when he was working on the guidelines Mr Doyle met Pope Francis in Rome and discussed his work.

Vincent's first book 'Our Fathers, A Phenomenon of Children of Catholic Priests and Religious', which was published in 2022.

Also read: Where and when to watch Pope Francis' funeral live on Saturday

Henry Rodgers, who was a student in St Mel's College in Longford and has lived in Rome for 37 years, said the Irish community in the Italian capital are greatly saddened.

The lecturer, who teaches English at Sapienza University, is part of a group of university lecturers in Italy, some of whom are Irish, who have been attempting to get equal employment pay and conditions.

Mr Rodgers said Pope's Francis' last public appearance at Easter Sunday mass on St Peter's Square showed his determination and his devotion to the people.

"People felt great empathy with him.

"He was very much admired and he touched the hearts of a lot of people.

"He was very spontaneous, down to earth, he was a man of peace and a kind man," he added.

Also read: Longford man and his wife celebrating 40th wedding anniversary pay respect to Pope Francis in Rome

Pauline Doran, from Cullyfad, said it was a wonderful experience for her and her late son Joe Doran to meet with Pope Francis in Rome nearly eight years ago.

Pope Francis was the first pope to publicly recognise HD, and he invited families from Ireland and around the world for a historic audience at the Vatican on May 18, 2017.

Joe sadly died last December. 

"He was a lovely gentle man who made a big fuss of the patients that were there with Huntington's and it was just for them that audience.

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"He was just a gentle, genuine person that would steal your heart," she added.

Pauline said the visit and the meeting with Pope Francis gave her son Joe a big boost and he had "great empathy" with them.

"Pope Francis went up to them and hugged them, all of us really but the sufferers and sinners, he seemed to give them an extra bear hug and he had time for them.

“It was something I never expected to be able to do and it gave Joe a big boost which was the main thing.

“My daughter and my brother and his wife came with us,” she added.

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