You must be joking! Father Ted icon and RTÉ hosts among comedians meeting the Pope this week

Irish comedians Patrick Kielty, Ardal O’Hanlon and Tommy Tiernan are among 100 entertainers who have been invited to the Vatican this Friday for an audience with Pope Francis.

On Saturday, the Vatican said the event will celebrate the beauty of "human diversity".

O'Hanlon is perhaps most famous for his role as Father Dougal McGuire on the beloved comedy "Father Ted," where his character supposedly "met the pope".

(Clip from Channel 4's Father Ted, Season 1 Episode 4 'Competition Time)

The mind may struggle with the thought of the Pope’s interaction with Irish comedians, who in more sheltered and narrow-minded days might have been considered to be disrespectful of Catholicism. But all three of the comics selected are now known for their intelligence, thoughtfulness and nuance.

Tommy Tiernan's attendance will be one of particular interest, as his first appearance on The Late Late Show in 1997 resulted in hundreds of complaints following a routine based on the crucifixion.

Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien and Chris Rock are also among the invited participants.

The pope "recognises the significant impact that the art of comedy has on the world of contemporary culture," a Vatican statement said.

British comedian Stephen Merchant - the co-writer of the TV comedy series The Office - is also set to attend the event.

The meeting will take place on Friday morning, before the Pope travels to Puglia to attend the G7 leaders' summit.

"The meeting between Pope Francis and the world's comedians aims to celebrate the beauty of human diversity and to promote a message of peace, love and solidarity," the Vatican said.

The audience has been organised by the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education and Dicastery for Communication.