Following the recent death of Pope Francis, some have questioned whether Ireland can still be considered a Catholic country.

Noel from Tipperary told Lunchtime Live that it depends on how you define Catholic.

“If you’re defining Catholic in terms of the 60s and 70s, no it’s not in the sense of large numbers attending mass and so on,” he said.

“But if you’re defining Catholic in the truly gospel sense, I think you have a more authentic Church in terms of one that’s engaging with the issues.

“I think Francis would have had his critics, but he also would have had a lot of admirers, particularly his stance on climate change and climate justice.”

Altar next to an open book of condolences for the death of Pope Francis I, next to a portrait of the Pope and a wreath of flowers, at the Apostolic Nunciature, April 22, 2025, in Madrid (Spain). Image: Antonio Gutierrez / Europa Press. 22 April 2025

Parish priest of Abbeyleix, Raheen and Ballinakill Father Paddy Byrne said the late pontiff’s death holds huge relevance to Irish people.

“No matter what creed or culture one is, if you’re part of our communities, particularly in rural Ireland, people acknowledge the passing of significant people and members of the community,” he said.

“So, I think there’s an innate respect and decency in the Irish people and certainly if you look at over 150 world leaders will gather in Rome on Saturday for Pope Francis’ funeral, as already named [by] every world media outlet out there.

“I think it’s a significant moment in time, particularly in a moment in time if you look at the culture that’s very toxic in terms of polemical towards the migrants, towards people from different genders or from different orientations.”

'The State imposes Catholicism on all of us'

John Hamill said that despite all the consensus that Pope Francis was a progressive and transformative Pope, he still sees no change in the Church.

“We’re all in this country part of the Church in a sense, given that the State imposes Catholicism on all of us, whether it’s through the education system or other aspects of legislation,” he said.

“I think as a people we are a pluralist country, there’s lots of different views among people about religious issues.

“I don’t seek to impose my view on my neighbours, my Catholic neighbours don’t seek to impose their views on me.

“I think we’re very much a live and let live country, the problem is we have a set of legislation and a statute book and a set of public services that are really out of date.”

One texter got in touch with the show to say that it was possible for Ireland to be a progressive country and still hold space for Catholicism.

Main image: A person walks next to a large cross in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Image: Peter Muhly / Alamy.26 November 2009