The last time a pope visited Ireland, homosexuality was a crime. Now the Irish prime minister is gay.

Pope Francis is welcomed by Leo Varadkar, Ireland's prime minister, at Dublin Castle on Saturday during his visit to Ireland. (Vatican/Reuters) (VATICAN MEDIA/Reuters)

In 2015, when Leo Varadkar was serving as Ireland’s health minister, he came out as a gay man on national radio.

The country was preparing to vote in a same-sex marriage referendum, and Varadkar told the radio host that his sexuality is “not a secret, but it’s not something that everyone would necessarily know.”

He also said…