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03 Oct 2025

Late Late Show host Patrick Kietly reveals bizarre fear when meeting Pope Francis

The comedian and Late Late Show host met the Pope in the Vatican last June

Late Late Show host Patrick Kietly reveals bizarre dear when meeting Pope Francis

Patrick Kielty

Late Late Show Patrick Kielty has reveled his bizarre fear when he travelled to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis over the summer.

He was part of a group of around 100 comedians who met the Pope, along with other Irish entertainers Tommy Tiernan and Ardal O'Hanlon.

He described the meeting as "surreal" and how it felt like almost "a weird fever dream"

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He also remarked about how funny it was seeing Ardal O'Hanlon, who famously played Father Dougal on Father Ted meeting the Pope "So just when you’re thinking Father Dougal’s going to meet the Pope then Whoopi Goldberg arrives in a car, who was by far the most popular person in the Vatican that day. Sister Act, apparently, at the Vatican."

When he was meeting the Pope he had a bit of concern as he saw him "physically recoiling" as Patrick had a swollen face.

"It was only afterwards that I actually found out I had shingles. So there was a chance that I had given the Pope shingles, but I was never so glad to actually see him the week after in full health, giving the blessings. It was a surreal experience."

Patrick Kielty returns to screens on Friday evening as the new series of The Late Late Show kicks off on RTÉ.

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