{"id":2626,"date":"2024-04-14T12:31:09","date_gmt":"2024-04-14T12:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/?p=2626"},"modified":"2024-04-14T12:31:10","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T12:31:10","slug":"the-papal-cross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/the-papal-cross\/","title":{"rendered":"THE PAPAL CROSS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-purple-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-vivid-purple-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-2613\" style=\"width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-70-2 metaslider metaslider-responsive metaslider-2613 ml-slider ms-theme-default\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"Slideshow\" aria-label=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_2613\">\n        <ul id='metaslider_2613' class='rslides'>\n            <li aria-roledescription='slide' aria-labelledby='slide-0'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231189-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231189-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2620 lazyload\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231189-1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231189-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231189-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2620\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231189-1\" \/><\/noscript><\/li>\n            <li style='display: none;' aria-roledescription='slide' aria-labelledby='slide-1'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231187-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231187-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2621 lazyload\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231187-1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231187-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231187-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2621\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231187-1\" \/><\/noscript><\/li>\n            <li style='display: none;' aria-roledescription='slide' aria-labelledby='slide-2'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231188-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231188-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2622 lazyload\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231188-1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231188-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231188-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2622\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231188-1\" \/><\/noscript><\/li>\n            <li style='display: none;' aria-roledescription='slide' aria-labelledby='slide-3'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231191-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231191-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2623 lazyload\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231191-1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231191-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231191-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2623\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231191-1\" \/><\/noscript><\/li>\n            <li style='display: none;' aria-roledescription='slide' aria-labelledby='slide-4'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231192-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231192-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2624 lazyload\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231192-1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231192-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231192-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2624\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231192-1\" \/><\/noscript><\/li>\n            <li style='display: none;' aria-roledescription='slide' aria-labelledby='slide-5'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231190-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231190-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2625 lazyload\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231190-1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/THE-PAPAL-CROSS-A-LANDMARK-IN-PHOENIX-PARK-231190-1-1422x1067.jpg\" height=\"1200\" width=\"1600\" alt=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231190-1\" class=\"slider-2613 slide-2625\" title=\"THE PAPAL CROSS [A LANDMARK IN PHOENIX PARK]-231190-1\" \/><\/noscript><\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-purple-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-vivid-purple-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-vivid-purple-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-3982e0f8abad71bb419d0920e150905e\"><strong>The Papal Cross: A Landmark of Faith and History in Phoenix Park<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Located in Dublin&#8217;s sprawling Phoenix Park, the Papal Cross stands as a stark and imposing monument commemorating Pope John Paul II&#8217;s historic visit to Ireland in 1979. This 35-meter (115-foot) tall, white steel cross served as the central backdrop for a momentous open-air Mass celebrated by the Pope, attended by over one million people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-vivid-purple-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-dbcfdcb193ab02dc06c6280ad8e98620\"><strong>History<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Monument to a Moment: The Papal Cross was designed by the renowned architects Scott Tallon Walker and erected hastily in the weeks before Pope John Paul II&#8217;s arrival. Despite being intended as a temporary structure, the cross garnered immense symbolic power and has become a permanent feature of Phoenix Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enduring Symbol: The cross was once again a focal point during Pope Francis&#8217;s visit to Ireland in 2018. It stands as a reminder of the deep, though recently complex, relationship between Ireland and the Catholic Church.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-vivid-purple-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-9f328a40a52003d6b8a88c3372539cbf\"><strong>Architecture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stark Simplicity: The Papal Cross is a study in stark minimalism. Its design comprises simple steel beams painted white, forming a Latin cross that dominates the surrounding parkland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Engineering Feat: The cross is notable for its size and the engineering skill required for its construction. It took several attempts to erect due to high winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-vivid-purple-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-a70cec97ec4c6aff1c820a749db44973\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Faith and Nation: The Papal Cross marks a turning point in Irish history, reflecting a time when the Catholic Church held enormous influence in the nation. It is a symbol of deep-rooted faith for many but also a reminder of the Church&#8217;s changing role in modern Ireland.<br>Controversies: The cross has faced some calls for removal, with critics arguing it&#8217;s an overly dominant religious symbol in a public park or that it represents a painful part of Irish history associated with Church scandals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Landmark: Regardless of its religious meaning, the Papal Cross has become an iconic Dublin landmark, its vast silhouette visible from many parts of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-vivid-purple-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-360a73faedd9b6880d2a0e6e9bc8ed80\"><strong>Visiting the Papal Cross<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Papal Cross is freely accessible within Phoenix Park. You can walk or cycle to it, appreciating its impressive scale within the park&#8217;s landscape. A plaque near the cross commemorates Pope John Paul II&#8217;s 1979 Mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-vivid-purple-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-vivid-purple-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Papal Cross is freely accessible within Phoenix Park. You can walk or cycle to it, appreciating its impressive scale within the park&#8217;s landscape<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2619,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","wds_primary_category":925,"footnotes":""},"categories":[929,925,927,926,148,6,928,9],"tags":[916,923,920,39,919,917,915,27,924,40,913,921,912,784,914,37,655,918,922,26],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2626"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2627,"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626\/revisions\/2627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/localhost:10071\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}