Vatican sources have dismissed a claim by Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness that the pope could visit Ireland in 2012.
Mr McGuinness told a Stormont committee today he had “some grounds” for believing Benedict was planning to visit in two years.
He made the claim after being challenged over his failure to take part in the Scottish leg of the Pontiff’s recent trip.
Mr McGuinness and First Minister Peter Robinson faced criticism for failing to attend the official reception in Edinburgh where Queen Elizabeth welcomed the Pope to Britain. But both men said they had already been expected to attend the opening of a new business venture by the New York Stock Exchange in Belfast.
Mr McGuinness said today Benedict’s trip was a British state visit and said he would instead be pleased to meet the pope when he visited Ireland.
“I also have some grounds for believing that could happen as soon as 2012,” he said.
Mr McGuinness failed to expand on the grounds for his prediction of an imminent Papal visit to Ireland.
Holy See sources said tonight no papal visit to Ireland had been planned.