Thank queue, Francis

Faithful sign condolences at the cathedral Pope visited in Ireland

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

QUEUES formed outside Dublin's Pro Cathedral yesterday morning as people waited to sign a book of condolences for Pope Francis.

The church has a special connection to the late pontiff, who visited the cathedral during his 36-hour trip to Ireland in 2018.

Led by Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell, the church placed the book beside a framed photo of the pope to the right of the altar.

By afternoon, long queues had died down but dozens waited inside as others trickled in to pay respects.

One of those signing the book was Rosemary Connolly, from Co Down, who said Pope Francis meant a lot to her. She told us: "I think he was a great pope for our time, any time really.

"It was his profound humanity, his empathy for the more disadvantaged, and we are unfortunately in a world that is bereft of anything like that.

"He stood out, he was always decent and good and he radiated that."

Rosemary travelled down to Dublin to spend the day with her daughter Eimear Burns Convery, who is sad that the world lost a decent man.