POPE Francis will visit the holy site of Knock as part of his trip to Ireland this weekend.
On Sunday, the Holy Father will circuit in the Popemobile and pray the Angelus at the Apparition Chapel.
This will be the second time a Pope has visited Knock Shrine following the visit of John Paul II on September 30, 1979 to mark the centenary of the holy apparition.
Here, LEAH McDONALD takes a look at the history of Knock.
What happened at Knock shrine and how many people witnessed the apparition of Mary?
The Story of Knock began on August 21, 1879 — at approximately 8.00pm.
It was then that 15 people from the village of Knock in Co Mayo, witnessed an Apparition of Our Lady, St Joseph, St John the Evangelist, a Lamb and cross on an altar at the gable wall of the Parish Church.
The witnesses watched the Apparition in the pouring rain for two hours, reciting the Rosary.
There were fifteen official witnesses to the Apparition, most of whom were from the village of Knock and surrounding areas and ranged in age from five-year-old John Curry, who later went to America and died in New York in 1943, to a woman aged 74-year-old.
As a boy John had been lifted up by an 11-year-old cousin so he could see over a wall. Each of the witnesses gave testimonies to a Commission of Enquiry in October 1879.
The findings of the Commission were that the testimonies were both trustworthy and satisfactory. Many miraculous cures have been reported at the Shrine since the Apparition and people still visit today in search of healing, reconciliation and peace.
What is there in Knock for pilgrims and what is the Annual national Novena?
Daily masses and confessions take place at Knock Shrine and there are daily guided prayer sessions from April to October.
Knock Summer Youth Festival is held in June and Knock Novena is held in August.
As many as 150,000 pilgrims attended the Novena over nine days last August. Knock museum opens all year round and captures the unique story of the Knock Apparition of 1879.
The museum also places the apparition in the context of life in 1879, from living in the thatched house to working in the forge.
Other themes include the Knock Shrine Society of Volunteers, Monsignor James Horan, cures at the shrine and a unique collection of pilgrims’ personal memories and stories.
The Knock shrine complex incorporates five churches including the Apparition Church, Parish Church, Basilica, Blessed Sacrament Chapel and Chapel of Reconciliation.
Other facilities include a religious book centre, caravan and camping park, hotel and the Knock Museum. The entire complex is set within 100 acres of landscaped gardens.
It was the determination of Monsignor James Horan that ensured Knock Airport was built.
It opened in 1985 with three chartered flights to Rome and has since welcomed more than 10 million passengers.
The airport’s first commercial flight in 1985 brought pilgrims to Rome and the facility continues to welcome pilgrimage-related chartered flights from as far away as the United States.
What time does Pope Francis arrive in Knock on Sunday and how long will he stay?
POPE Francis will arrive in Knock at 9.45am.
He will circuit in the Popemobile and pray the Angelus at the Apparition Chapel before departing from Knock Shrine at 11.15am.
Popemania has taken hold there, with baskets of fresh floral bouquets, bunting and Pope Francis flags all lining the streets.
The Holy Father’s face is beaming around the town on welcome posters, T-shirts, stamps, coffee mugs and car air-fresheners.
Villagers are working around the clock to make sure the town is looking its best for the first Papal visit since 1979.
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It was then when Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Knock shrine.
He described his time at the site where the group of local people saw the Virgin Mary in 1879 as “the goal of my journey to Ireland”.
It is estimated 450,000 people attended an outdoor Mass that marked the centenary of the event.