'They’ll be received warmly in the Vatican': An Post praised for free Mass card delivery on pope’s death

A Cork city councillor has praised An Post for allowing people to send Mass cards on the death of Pope Francis to the Vatican for free.

An Post dispatched a package of almost 4,000 Mass cards from Irish people sympathising on the death of Francis for direct delivery to the Vatican in Rome.

In response to customer queries about where mass cards might be sent, An Post offered to provide free delivery to customers wishing to send cards to the Vatican.

Welcoming An Post’s special arrangement for customers, Ireland’s Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor said: “To post a card is very often to post a thought, a feeling, a part of ourselves.

“That is what I see in this beautiful initiative, facilitated by An Post, to send your mass cards to Rome.

“They are more than a gesture of remembrance.

“They are a sign of attachment to a person who had a special place in many Irish hearts.

“They carry with them your prayers for Pope Francis, but they carry too your love and appreciation of what he meant in your lives.

“May God bless all those who have participated.”

A spokesperson for An Post added that they had gotten a huge response to their offer: “We have been in touch with our counterparts in the Vatican Post Office, so they will be expecting this special package from Ireland.

“So many customers were pleased to be able to express their sympathy and respect for the late Pope Francis, and know that their cards will be delivered safely. We’ve even received cards from across the world to be included in the dispatch from Ireland.”

Fianna Fáil councillor for Cork City North West Tony Fitzgerald, who met with Francis during a visit to Rome while he was lord mayor in May 2018, said it was fantastic that so many were able to send their condolences.

He told The Echo that the late pontiff meant a lot to people in Cork, saying: “It’s a nice gesture and way of reflecting on the life of Francis — Mass cards are an old tradition in Ireland, and in Cork particularly, and I have no doubt they’ll be received warmly in the Vatican.”

Irish dignitaries including Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended Francis’s funeral. Mr Martin said at the time: “It was an honour to represent the Government and people of Ireland at the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis, and to reflect on and appreciate the achievements of his life.”