Madam, - Pádraic Walsh (July 27th) looks forward to a second visit by the Pope, saying that the Ireland he will find is a "more open, prosperous, confident society than at any time in our history". This self-congratulatory tone reminded me of the atmosphere before the papal visit in 1979: a Catholic country, eager to be reminded of our virtues by the Pope.
On that occasion, the Pope begged to differ: "Ireland must choose" (homily at Limerick); and: "in order to possess more you may be tempted to take moral short-cuts where honesty, truth and work are concerned" (Galway homily).
My guess is that our long-standing conviction that we are "second to none", as John Kelly TD used to say, will be prophetically challenged this time around as well. - Yours, etc.,
Rev PATRICK GOREVAN,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.