PAPAL CROSS IN PHOENIX PARK AND TWO ASSOCIATED PAPAL VISITS PHOTOGRAPHED 31 JULY 2026
The Papal Cross in Phoenix Park and the First Papal Visit
The Papal Cross is one of the most recognisable landmarks within Dublin’s Phoenix Park. It was erected specifically for the historic pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II, who arrived in Ireland on 29th September 1979.
On that afternoon, Pope John Paul II celebrated an open-air Mass at the site before a congregation estimated at over 1.25 million people—representing roughly a third of the entire population of the island of Ireland at the time. Designed by renowned architect Ronnie Tallon of Scott Tallon Walker, the giant white steel structure was constructed in just ten weeks by J. & C. McGloughlin of Inchicore. Standing 35 metres (115 feet) high and weighing 31 tonnes, the cross served as the iconic backdrop for the altar.
Was there a second Papal Visit?
Yes. Ireland hosted a second papal visit 39 years later, when Pope Francis visited Dublin on 25–26 August 2018 for the World Meeting of Families.
On Sunday, 26th August 2018, Pope Francis celebrated an open-air Mass at the exact same location in Phoenix Park, with the Papal Cross once again serving as the central focal point for the altar setup.
Is the cross on display the original?
Yes, the cross standing in Phoenix Park today is the original 1979 structure.
Although engineered as a temporary installation for the 1979 event, strong public sentiment—alongside interventions by then-Taoiseach Charles Haughey and church leaders—led to the decision to retain the monument permanently. It was given formal planning retention status shortly thereafter and has remained on its granite-paved mound ever since.
Does it attract much attention?
The Papal Cross remains a major visual feature within Phoenix Park and regularly attracts significant public attention:
Tourists and Sightseers: It is a standard stop on Dublin city tours, where visitors gather at the base to take photographs and read the commemorative plaque.
Recreation and Views: Located on elevated ground off Chesterfield Avenue, the site offers sweeping, panoramic vistas across the park and southwards towards the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. It is one of the most popular meeting points for local walkers, runners, and cyclists.
Commemoration: It continues to serve as a landmark for religious gatherings and anniversaries, symbolising a pivotal moment in 20th-century Irish social and cultural history.
Who owns and maintains the Papal Cross?
The Papal Cross is managed and maintained by the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Irish government body responsible for the conservation, care, and overall management of Phoenix Park.
The OPW undertakes routine maintenance, structural inspections, and periodic repainting—such as the extensive refurbishment carried out prior to Pope Francis’s visit in 2018—to ensure the steel structure is preserved against the elements.
The Papal Cross is one of the most recognisable landmarks within Dublin’s Phoenix Park. It was erected specifically for the historic pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II, who arrived in Ireland on 29th September 1979.
On that afternoon, Pope John Paul II celebrated an open-air Mass at the site before a congregation estimated at over 1.25 million people—representing roughly a third of the entire population of the island of Ireland at the time. Designed by renowned architect Ronnie Tallon of Scott Tallon Walker, the giant white steel structure was constructed in just ten weeks by J. & C. McGloughlin of Inchicore. Standing 35 metres (115 feet) high and weighing 31 tonnes, the cross served as the iconic backdrop for the altar.
Was there a second Papal Visit?
Yes. Ireland hosted a second papal visit 39 years later, when Pope Francis visited Dublin on 25–26 August 2018 for the World Meeting of Families.
On Sunday, 26th August 2018, Pope Francis celebrated an open-air Mass at the exact same location in Phoenix Park, with the Papal Cross once again serving as the central focal point for the altar setup.
Is the cross on display the original?
Yes, the cross standing in Phoenix Park today is the original 1979 structure.
Although engineered as a temporary installation for the 1979 event, strong public sentiment—alongside interventions by then-Taoiseach Charles Haughey and church leaders—led to the decision to retain the monument permanently. It was given formal planning retention status shortly thereafter and has remained on its granite-paved mound ever since.
Does it attract much attention?
The Papal Cross remains a major visual feature within Phoenix Park and regularly attracts significant public attention:
Tourists and Sightseers: It is a standard stop on Dublin city tours, where visitors gather at the base to take photographs and read the commemorative plaque.
Recreation and Views: Located on elevated ground off Chesterfield Avenue, the site offers sweeping, panoramic vistas across the park and southwards towards the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. It is one of the most popular meeting points for local walkers, runners, and cyclists.
Commemoration: It continues to serve as a landmark for religious gatherings and anniversaries, symbolising a pivotal moment in 20th-century Irish social and cultural history.
Who owns and maintains the Papal Cross?
The Papal Cross is managed and maintained by the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Irish government body responsible for the conservation, care, and overall management of Phoenix Park.
The OPW undertakes routine maintenance, structural inspections, and periodic repainting—such as the extensive refurbishment carried out prior to Pope Francis’s visit in 2018—to ensure the steel structure is preserved against the elements.
THE PAPAL CROSS 31 JULY 2026