Donegal priest recalls 'kind, courteous' Pope Benedict

A Donegal priest who worked closely with Pope Benedict XVI has recalled the late pontiff's 'attention to people'.

Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, who is now the Cathedral Administrator of the Raphoe Diocese, served as a personal Master of Ceremonies to Pope Benedict during a spell in Rome.

The Gweedore native also worked closely with Pope Francis before returning to Donegal in 2017.

While working with the Congregation of the Clergy, Mgr Gillespie worked at close quarters with Pope Benedict.

Letterkenny's Mary Maguire reads at funeral of Pope Benedict

An estimated 100,000 attended the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who died on Saturday, aged 95

Nearly ten years after becoming the first Pope in 600 years to resign, Benedict died on New Years Eve, aged 95.

“He was very kind, very courteous and a very reserved man,” Mgr Gillespie told Donegal Live from Rome having attended the funeral at St Peter's Square on Thursday morning.

“It was a privilege. I suppose when you are in the same environment, you see the person's whole personality and not just the public persona.

“He had kindness and real attention to individuals and people. He, very typically, would remember peoples' own situations and would refer to it when he met those people.”

Mgr Gillespie's principal role was assisting with Vatican Ceremonial duties and he accompanied both Pope Benedict and Francis on foreign visits.

Benedict, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope in 2005 following the death of John Paul II.

He is regarded one of the 20th century’s great theologians and spent a lifetime upholding church doctrine.

“The years, decades and centuries to come will show that his teaching was so clear and captivating,” Mgr Gillespie said.

“He had a gift of teaching things in such a simple, clear way; that is what will endure.

“It was a tremendous privilege to be near a person like the Holy Father and see close hand what his work and ministry entailed.

“Also, just to listen to him frequently, people are only aware of what he said in public, but you pick up on his outlook.”

Downings native Fr Eamonn McLaughlin, who now works in the Dicastery of the Clergy - the new title for the Congregation of the Clergy – was present at Thursday's funeral, presided over by Pope Francis.

Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe, Philip Boyce, also made the journey to Rome.

As he stood under the dome of St Peter's Basilica, Mgr Gillespie said he felt 'very much at heart to be here' and thanked his colleagues in the Cathedral Parish to giving their blessing to attend.

That feeling was heightened as one of his own parishioners, Ms Mary Maguire, delivered the second reading.

Mgr Gillespie said: “It was a lovely moment that we couldn't have imagined earlier this week.

“Mary was very conscious of carrying the intentions of the Diocese. Bishop (McGuckian) was thrilled and Mary helped to bring the Diocese with her.”