The 50th International Eucharist Congress is coming to Dublin starting on my birthday, June 10.

The Pope, however, won’t be in attendance.  Instead, he will make a televised address, according to Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.

This news comes after Martin was kind enough to give the Pope a bowl of shamrock.

Pilgrims from all around the world will be in attendance for the event.

One has to wonder: why wouldn’t the Pope come for such a historic and symbolic event?  After all, this is the 1,500th anniversary of the arrival of St Patrick in Ireland.

Could it be because Ireland removed its embassy from the Vatican in wake of the child abuse scandals that have rocked the entire Catholic Church?

We can only guess.