Elevation of Knock Shrine to International Sanctuary of Special Eucharistic and Marian Devotion

That this House notes that Pope Francis has elevated the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock in Knock, Co. Mayo, Ireland as an International Sanctuary of Special Eucharistic and Marian Devotion on 19 March 2021; acknowledges the contribution to this achievement of Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary, who initiated the petition to the Holy See for recognition of Knock as an international shrine, and Fr. Richard Gibbons, Rector of Knock Shrine, who has welcomed pilgrims and visitors from around the world since being appointed Knock Parish Priest in 2012 and plans to continue to do so in the future when international travel resumes; recognises the importance of this recognition for Irish Catholics and all Catholics around the world; and congratulates them on this momentous occasion in their ecclesiastical life.