Not so well known is the visit to the Vatican by another group of Irishmen, the 38th Irish Brigade of the British army, 75 years ago this month. On the morning of June 12th, 1944, 150 men from the brigade were received by Pope Pius XII. He also had an arch sense of humour and said of the date chosen: “I was only sorry it wasn’t the 12th of July.”The 38th (Irish) Brigade was formed in 1942. Outside, the brigade’s pipers started again on the steps of St Peter’s. “I had served Mass in many strange places, but to do so in St Peter’s Cathedral was beyond belief.

Source: The Irish Times June 10, 2019 17:14 UTC