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ABACA/PA Images

Climate Bells: The gift Michael D Higgins gave Pope Francis today

President Higgins was expected to discuss ‘issues of global importance’ with the Pope in the Vatican today.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins has given Pope Francis a Climate Bell today as part of his visit to the Vatican.

The artwork is meant to signify the community effort that President Higgins believes is needed to limit climate change.

The hand bell is the fifth in the Climate Bell series by artist Vivienne Roche, and was inspired by the address by President Higgins gave at the Summit of Conscience for Climate 2015.

In that address, Higgins said that “each citizen will be just as decisive in reaching the ambitious agreement mankind needs” as heads of state.

Pope Francis Meets Michael D. Higgins President of Ireland - Vatican This particular bell, the fifth bell in the series, is called a 'Mother Earth Bell'. ABACA / PA Images ABACA / PA Images / PA Images

The President and his wife Sabina Higgins have travelled from Rome from Venice, where he attended the Biennale, the world’s largest and oldest international art exhibition.

At the exhibition, Higgins will visit the Irish pavilion and meet with artist Jesse Jones and representatives from organisations involved in the exhibition, including Culture Ireland and the Arts Council.

Pope Francis Meets Michael D. Higgins President of Ireland - Vatican ABACA / PA Images ABACA / PA Images / PA Images

The President had a private meeting with Pope Francis where the two leaders were expected to “discuss issues of regional and global importance”.

A spokesman for the President said: “Following the meeting with the Pope, the President will have a meeting with Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican.

“In the afternoon, the President will meet with Irish clergy and lay staff working at the Vatican, at a reception at the Irish College in Rome.”

With reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha

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47 Comments
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    Mute Shane Murphy
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:01 AM

    Should read ” the pope is going to meet Irish president Micheal D Higgins today”

    Micheal D is a legend

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    Mute Tom Molloy
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    May 22nd 2017, 9:53 AM

    @Shane Murphy: Both are deep thinking men and can benefit from meeting and sharing.

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:46 AM
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    Mute Iohanan
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    May 22nd 2017, 11:11 AM

    @Shane Murphy: eh… no.

    19
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    Mute Terry
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    May 22nd 2017, 11:15 AM

    @Tom Molloy: “Both are deep thinking men and can benefit from meeting and sharing.”

    Frank is a deep thinker? He believes in an invisible cloud fairy based on no evidence whatsoever. If that’s your definition of a deep thinker, you’re in serious trouble.

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    Mute Cáit Ní Mheachair
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    May 22nd 2017, 6:26 PM

    @Paul Fahey: I see that link is from Fox News

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    May 22nd 2017, 7:10 PM

    @Cáit Ní Mheachair: one from a liberal media site and one from as conservative and religion friendly as you can get. It was to stop the catholic defenders from dismissing the source of the information.

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    Mute Tom Newnewman
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    May 22nd 2017, 7:31 PM

    @Terry: Pope Francis worked out a way to successfully bring Cuban and US together. Nothing invisible about that.

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    Mute Tom Newnewman
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    May 22nd 2017, 7:37 PM

    @Paul Fahey: Don’t forget links to Irish State run secular institutions abuse activity and imply head of state complicity.

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:33 PM

    @Terry:
    1.285 Billion Catholic worldwide believe in God too.

    6
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    Mute Chris Finn
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:38 PM

    @Aine O Connor: Except there’s no proof and it’s ran by an organisation that deliberately covered up the rape of babies, is homophobic, sexist, aggressive, financially corrupt, hypocritical, autocratic, violent.

    Oh I forgot they murdered babies and worked their way into schools at a young age.

    But don’t let facts get in the way of your point

    4
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    Mute William Grogan
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:39 PM

    @Tom Molloy: Both are deluded frauds. One’s a Commie and the other believes in fairy tale nonsense.

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    Mute Melissa O'Callaghan
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:20 AM

    If he could come away with a few items to melt down, to go towards the Catholic debt that would be good.

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    Mute DubKid
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    May 22nd 2017, 7:36 AM

    He’ll need a step ladder to get up & kiss his ring

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    Mute Paul Radburn
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    May 22nd 2017, 5:48 PM

    @DubKid: or he can get down on his knees and kiss it!

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    Mute Tariq Ibn Ziyad
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:15 AM

    Will President Higgins be visiting the head of Scientology next? Or is it only cults that have their own bank?

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:42 AM

    @Tariq Ibn Ziyad: just the ones who have their own bank and heavily influence government decisions

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    Mute Stouts O Shea
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:11 AM

    @Tariq Ibn Ziyad: when you have a few thousand followers you have a cult
    When you have hundreds of millions followers
    You have a religion

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    Mute Chris Finn
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:42 PM

    @Stouts O Shea: You literally made that up. That is categorically not the definition of a cult or a religion. You actually literally deliberately chose to make that up.

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    Mute Tom Molloy
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    May 22nd 2017, 9:43 AM

    Always a good thing when people who have a concern for humanity meet up.

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    May 22nd 2017, 2:31 PM

    @Tom Molloy: Frankie the pope has absolutely no concern for humanity, he is a fraud, and only interested in lining the pockets of the RCC, like all the popes before him

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    Mute Tom Molloy
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    May 22nd 2017, 5:51 PM

    @Larissa Caroline Nikolaus: bitterness is not good for anyone

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    Mute Chris Finn
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    May 23rd 2017, 8:56 AM

    @Tom Molloy: Ignoring the truth is infinitely worse especially when the truth is covering up murder and rape of babies, homophobia sexism and corruption.

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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    May 26th 2017, 9:57 PM

    @Larissa Caroline Nikolaus: Not entirely true, there was one pope who didn’t do that.. he got a bullet in the head though…

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    Mute Stouts O Shea
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    May 22nd 2017, 7:44 AM

    A lot of ring kissing wii be going on….
    President will be trying a new low fat holy communion wafer

    I cannot believe it’s not jesus

    59
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    May 22nd 2017, 9:11 AM

    Neiter men have a lot in common I would have thought – Higgins the humanist and Pope Francis the spiritual hedonist.

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    Mute Owen Martin
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    May 22nd 2017, 5:29 PM

    @Chris Kirk: climate religion brings them together

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    May 22nd 2017, 9:24 AM

    I think they will discuss (a) the globalisation of indifference, with special regard to the growing refugee crisis in the Middle East and NE Africa; (b) the repercussions of not modifying the operation of EU institutions; (c) future possibilities for a post-Castro Cuba, and the general relations between Latin America and the USA; (d) the limited powers of the UN.
    They might discuss spiritual matters too. After all the Pope is a multinational spiritual mentor more than a commentator on international finance and politics.

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    Mute Tom Molloy
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    May 22nd 2017, 9:50 AM

    @Garreth Byrne: A lot of stuff happening in the world at the moment that needs wise and calm analysis and sensitive response.

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    Mute Stouts O Shea
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    May 22nd 2017, 5:29 PM

    @Garreth Byrne: jasus if we could only get a foal out of him

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    Mute William Grogan
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:43 PM

    @Garreth Byrne: “spiritual matters”??? Utter Buollux!!

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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    May 26th 2017, 9:56 PM

    @Garreth Byrne: in 15 minutes?

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    Mute Just Me
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    May 22nd 2017, 5:30 PM

    What is the purpose of this meeting, other than another junket for Higgins and the missus. I mean Higgins has no authority or influence in the politics of the world. I can’t for the life of me see the value in his role ,other than a retirement perk for our politicians .

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    Mute William Grogan
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:41 PM

    @Just Me: Yes, the “two leaders” comment is a joke.

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    Mute Stouts O Shea
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    May 22nd 2017, 1:27 PM

    All he got was 15 minutes with the pope?
    If they. Had a good piss together they would have discussed more??
    Why didn’t higgo Snapchat him ???
    Would have cost the state less
    All that way for 15 minutes?

    32
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    Mute vectorsector
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    May 22nd 2017, 6:01 PM

    More apt headline would read ‘little Micky meets big bollox’

    19
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    Mute iMoan Brutal
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    May 22nd 2017, 10:01 AM

    Hope he has his blank chequebook with him

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    Mute Jack Cassady
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    May 22nd 2017, 11:49 AM

    Hopefully Michael D tones down the moralizing a tad.

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    Mute Owen Martin
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    May 22nd 2017, 5:27 PM

    The Pope is now head of the climate change movement, makes a lot of sense since it is now a religion. I wonder if Michael D gave out to him over building the wall around the Vatican.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 22nd 2017, 5:23 PM

    Ah sure there’s Jesus with the English flag behind him

    12
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    May 24th 2017, 1:03 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: And what is that female part Jesus is painted in front off, the art and design of the Church is full of genital imagery.

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    Mute Rachel Didleu
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    May 22nd 2017, 4:24 PM

    Your Eminence and leader of of zillllliooons of Catholic , may l ask a question of your Holy Eminence, says MD. Off course Mickey ask away….says Frannie….Where do you stand on liberation theologians Your Eminence….a pregnant silence ensues and then Frannie replies ex cathera….On their bleeding throats Mickey on their bleeding throats…..

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    Mute John003
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    May 22nd 2017, 5:05 PM

    @Rachel Didleu: Not sure liberation theology has been a great success in Venezuela or South America….Brazil..Chile Columbia and the rest seem to be doing ok with market economy capitalism at the moment…They need to be liberated from having too many children as Catholics….

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    Mute Oh Sheeple Stand Up
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    May 22nd 2017, 8:41 PM

    Should have been chastity belts for his fellow paedos

    8
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    May 24th 2017, 1:00 AM

    That is nice, it looks like a Candle Snuffer for the wick on his hat. The Pope is a candle lol.

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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    May 22nd 2017, 6:53 PM
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