A senior observer of the Catholic Church says Pope Francis is unlikely to accept the Taoiseach’s invitation to visit Ireland.

The Irish Times’ Religious Affairs Correspondent Patsy McGarry says travel is not likely to be a priority for the pontiff - and when he does leave the Vatican, he will tend to focus on the developing world.

Enda Kenny says he hopes Francis will become the first leader of the Catholic Church to visit Ireland since John Paul II in 1979.

However, Patsy McGarry told Newstalk's Pat Kenny show he doesn’t think we should expect a Papal visit any time soon:

Commentators say it marks a new point in - what had been - the damaged relationship between the Irish State and the Vatican.

In January, the government confirmed it was to reopen the Vatican embassy after its closure in 2011. At the time the coalition cited economic reasons for its closure. It came after Taoiseach Enda Kenny's openly critical address to the Dáil the previous summer on the church's handling of child abuse allegations. 

Last month Pope Francis asked forgiveness for the damage done by Roman Catholic priests who abused children.