Cardinal criticises EU attitude to Christian way of life
Sept 05, 2008
Growing unease among Christians at the direction in which the EU is headed may have been a factor in the recent rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by Irish voters, the Catholic primate, Cardinal Seán Brady, has said.
(The Irish Times, August 25, 2008) Speaking at the Humbert Summer School in Co Mayo, the cardinal said the "prevailing culture and social agenda" within the EU appeared to be driven by the secular tradition "rather than by the Christian memory and heritage of the vast majority of member states".
The Catholic Church, he said, was "generally positive towards the European project and its founding ideals", but this was "a qualified support".
"As the recent referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland suggests, at least some of those who were previously enthusiastic about the founding aims of the EU, both social and economic, are now expressing unease," he said.
The cardinal made his comments while delivering the Bishop Stock address in St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Killala, the keynote event of the Humbert school, which concluded yesterday. He spoke of "a fairly widespread culture in European affairs which relegates manifestations of one's own religious convictions to the private and subjective sphere".
To ignore "this trend within the EU and its impact on people of faith has inevitable political and social consequences, not least on levels of support for the project itself", he said.
It was "why it may be important for the EU to look again at a prevailing pragmatic attitude that compromises on essential human, moral and social values on the basis of the lowest common denominator", he said.
"The experience of many Christians within the EU is that this lowest common denominator invariably coincides with the secular and relativist tradition within Europe - that which denies moral absolutes with an objective basis - rather than the religious view."
Such an approach ended up with Christians "being denied the right to intervene in public debates or at least having their contribution dismissed as an attempt to protect unjustified privileges, such as, for example, the right to employ people who support the ethos of a Christian institution".
The cardinal said one reason influencing some Christians' view of the European project may be what Pope John Paul II described as the "loss of Christian memory" in European institutions and policy.
"Successive decisions which have undermined the family based on marriage, the right to life from the moment of conception to natural death, the sacredness of the Sabbath, the right of Christian institutions to maintain and promote their ethos, including schools - these and other decisions have made it more difficult for committed Christians to maintain their instinctive commitment to the European project," he said.
He contrasted the situation in Europe with that in the US, "a culture which prides itself on the separation of church and state and on its diversity". He was "intrigued to discover last weekend that it was quite natural to expect the US presidential candidates to answer direct questions about their commitment to faith, their willingness to support faith-based organisations, their position on moral issues and how it would affect their appointment of public officials". He looked forward "to the day we have the same level of openness and choice in our own elections here in Ireland and in Europe".
"Without respect for its Christian memory and soul, I believe it is possible to anticipate continuing difficulties for the European project. These will emerge not only in economic terms but in terms of social cohesion and the continued growth of a dangerous individualism that does not care about God or about what the future might have in store."
Cardinal's Irish cheer
Jul 25, 2008
Cardinal Sean Brady returned to Ireland this week with a bagful of wonderful memories, capped by the warmth of the large Irish community in Penrith.
(penrithpress.com.au, 25 July, 2008) He said he was overwhelmed by the welcome of the Sydney residents during the recent World Youth Day (WYD) celebrations.
"I congratulate the people of Sydney and Australia for a most wonderful WYD and I am very pleased to see so many young people showing a different way to overcome self-centered ways of living," Cardinal Brady told the Penrith Press.
He visited the thriving Penrith Gaels Cultural and Sporting Club on Monday afternoon where he enjoyed the hospitality of his delighted countrymen over a lunch.
"I always have high expectations of WYD having been there for the first one 23 years ago but Sydney exceeded even my high expectations," Cardinal Brady said. Keen to meet members of the large Irish community in NSW, he was taken to the Penrith Gaels by the Rev Father Tom Devereaux, who runs a welfare centre in Bondi and was in charge of the nearly 1000 Irish WYD pilgrims.
Proving that the world is indeed a small place, Cardinal Brady was surprised to meet the Rev Father Tim McKinney, whom he had ordained three years ago in County Armagh.
"He and his mother Collette are visiting family in Penrith and it's lovely to meet them here as they are from my county," he said. "I am obviously thrilled to meet Irish descendants and immigrants in Penrith and I am surprised at their large numbers."
The Penrith Gaels boasts a membership of over 4000 members though only 10 per cent are Irish, according to a club official.
The rest come from across western Sydney and beyond.
Irish Vice-Consul Louise Kelly and Cr Karen McKeown,attended the lunch along with club officials general manager David Cunningham, directors Pat and Tina Cullen and vice-president Noel Donohoe.
Later in the week Cardinal Brady also caught up with members of the Irish-Australian Welfare Bureau in Bondi, which supports immigrants and residents.
Jérusalem: un cardinal irlandais interdit de Mur des lamentations à cause de sa croix
May 15, 2008
Le cardinal Sean Brady, archevêque d'Armagh en Irlande, s'est vu interdire jeudi de l'Ascension l'accès au Mur des lamentations à Jérusalem parce qu'il portait une croix pectorale. Malgré la permission de la sécurité israélienne, un colon juif a lancé des menaces.
(bonnenouvelle.ch, 08-05-2008) La délégation chrétienne composée des chefs des quatre principales d'Eglises d'Irlande a dû rebrousser chemin.
Le cardinal Sean Brady a déclaré avoir accepté les excuses du gouvernement israélien après l'incident du 1er mai. Le prélat était à la tête d'une délégation ścuménique composée du chef de l'Eglise anglicane d'Irlande, et des Eglises presbytérienne et méthodiste.
La délégation voulait visiter le Mur occidental après qu'un officier de sécurité israélien ait assuré que les responsables religieux irlandais pouvaient garder leur croix.
Devant les menaces d'un colon, l'évêque Younan a demandé à l'officier d'en référer à ses supérieurs. Mais après avoir attendu en vain, le groupe a décidé de s'en aller, pour éviter une confrontation avec les extrémistes.
Les prélats ont déploré l'incident, déclarant qu'ils n'avaient pas l'intention de créer des problèmes, étant en visite pastorale en Terre Sainte pour promouvoir la paix et la compréhension mutuelle.
Un porte-parole du gouvernement israélien a déclaré que les quatre responsables religieux seraient les bienvenus s'ils effectuaient une autre visite à Jérusalem.
Pas le premier incident du genre
Ce n'est pas la première fois que des responsables chrétiens doivent faire face à des marques d'intolérance religieuse en visitant le Mur occidental, lieu sacré pour les juifs.
En novembre dernier, le rabbin du Mur Shmuel Rabinovitch avait également exigé qu'un groupe d'évêques autrichiens emmené par le cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archevêque de Vienne, cachent leur croix avant de pénétrer dans l'enceinte du Mur.
Ils s'étaient alors retirés. Notons que lors de sa visite historique au Mur des lamentations, le dimanche 26 mars 2000, le pape Jean Paul II n'avait pas ôté sa croix malgré les protestations de juifs ultra-orthodoxes.
Pour la première fois dans l'histoire, un pape s'était rendu au Mur des lamentations, le lieu le plus sacré des juifs vénéré comme l'unique vestige du Temple de Salomon.
Secular Europe prompts Christian skepticism
Apr 18, 2008
Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh, Ireland, has called upon European leaders to recognize the concerns of Christian moralists, saying that hostility to the faith is threatening European unity.
Rome, Apr. 17, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Irish cardinal said that many Christians have grown skeptical about the European Union because "an expectation that a secular, relativist and utilitarian approach dominates ethical considerations." He said that efforts to change the legal definition of marriage have fueled that skepticism, draining the enthusiasm that Christians might feel for the European Union.
Saying that the unity of the continent can best be preserved through a clear commitment to shared moral principles, the cardinal suggested efforts to develop "a Europe of values."
EU should respect Church's teaching
Apr 17, 2008
Cardinal Sean Brady has called for “a Europe of values” in which the European Union respects the Church’s teaching on marriage and euthanasia.
(totalcatholic.com, April 16, 2008) Speaking in Rome, he said that in an increasingly technocratic and economic-driven society, the vision and values which inspired the EU initially could be lost.
“Developing the concept of a Europe of values remains a critical but somewhat unresolved dimension of the European Union,” the cardinal said.
He said he noted that some Christians were suspicious of the EU in matters of ethics and he said it would be regrettable if people misjudged or misrepresented developments on the assumption that the EU was hostile to religious or ethical values.
“People of religious faith who may be natural enthusiasts of the concept of a European Union, increasingly approach European developments with scepticism,” he said.
“They have an expectation that a secular, relativist and utilitarian approach dominates ethical considerations,” he explained, adding that it would appear that the right to maintain a distinctive ethos in religious institutions was constantly under threat”.
Cardinal Brady said issues such as “the nature of marriage, the family or the origin and end of life have to be constantly defended against a dominant centralising and standardising tendency.”
Il cardinale Sean Brady elogia il primo ministro in via di dimettersi
Apr 05, 2008
Il cardinale Sean Brady, arcivescovo di di Armagh, ha voluto elogiare il primo ministro irlandese, Bertie Ahern, che ieri ha preannunciato la sua volontà di dimettersi il 6 di maggio.
(Radio Vaticana, 04/04/2008) DUBLINO - "Attraverso l'impegno nel cercare di mantenere una linea di continuità per quanto riguarda la pace dell'isola, coltivando e facendo aumentare il rispetto nelle relazioni che intercorrono a tutt'oggi tra Irlanda e Britannia, il legame tra Bertie Ahern e la società civile irlandese è di proporzioni enormi". Questo l’elogio del cardinale Brady. Una sorta di ringraziamento verso il primo ministro che, nel 1995, volle istituire un tavolo di dialogo stato/chiesa, intorno al quale i rappresentanti ecclesiastici si incontravano regolarmente con i ministri del governo per discutere problemi di comune preoccupazione.
Confession is now the 'forgotten sacrament'
Apr 01, 2008
Preaching at Knock Shrine in County Mayo yesterday, the Primate of All-Ireland also linked the decline in confession to a wider spiritual crisis in values in an increasingly violent and celebrity-obsessed society.
(independent.ie, March 31 2008) He called on pilgrims attending a special Divine Mercy Sunday service to pray for a renewal of the traditional practice of confessing personal sins to a priest for absolution, a central feature of Irish Catholicism until a few decades ago.
"When we cease to worship God, we can lose the sense of direction and of purpose in life," the 68-year-old Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh warned.
He observed that the consequences of today's spiritual crisis in society -- or a crisis of values -- were becoming increasingly evident.
"We are becoming a more heartless, less forgiving and a less merciful society," he said.
"You see it in an increasingly aggressive and competitive attitude, in the more frequent resort to violence, in the relentless pursuit of the vulnerabilities of celebrities and public figures, for entertainment rather than for legitimate public interest and in the merciless culture of image compliance, not least among the young."
Cardinal Brady also suggested that this crisis was probably linked to our increasing departure from the practice of the Catholic faith, and to our loss of a sense of our being created and therefore dependent on a Creator other than ourselves.
"The problem cannot be addressed by social or political initiatives alone," he said.
"Our society needs a change of heart about God, about the Church, about living, enjoying and sharing a faith which makes us more loving and human."
Referring to yesterday's Gospel reading, Cardinal Brady quoted Christ's words to his apostles after the Resurrection that 'those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven.'
"What incredible words," added the Cardinal. "What consoling words. The mercy of God is completely available to us. It is willingly and generously offered."
Cardinal points to spiritual crisis in violent society
Mar 31, 2008
Cardinal Sean Brady has said there is an increasingly aggressive attitude in society leading to a more frequent resort to violence.
(Belfast Telegraph, March 30, 2008) In his homily for the Divine Mercy Sunday Mass at the Knock Shrine, the Cardinal also attacked what he said was a relentless pursuit of the vulnerabilities of celebrities and public figures, for entertainment rather than for legitimate public interest.
The Cardinal said confession has become all but a forgotten sacrament for a significant number of people and there is a spiritual crisis in our society.
Cardinal Brady calls on Catholics to go to confession during holy week
Mar 15, 2008
Cardinal Sean Brady has delivered his St Patrick's Day sermon at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh.
(belfasttelegraph.co.uk March 15, 2008) In it he called on all Catholics to take the opportunity to make peace with God by going to confession during Holy Week.
He also invited all Irish people who have lost their connection with the faith to rediscover it.
Old enemies unite to honour Ireland's new Cardinal
Nov 27, 2007
Important relationships formed between political leaders in Britain, Dublin and Northern Ireland since the cessation of violence, were further strengthened in Rome during a weekend of celebrations to mark the elevation of Archbishop Seán Brady of Armagh to the Sacred College of Cardinals, on the 24 and 25 November.
(Independent Catholic News, November 2007) The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and senior representatives of the Irish and British governments attended the Public Consistory held by Pope Benedict XVI, in St Peter's Basilica, on Saturday morning.
The Northern Ireland Executive was represented in the person of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness, described as a "former IRA commander by the Irish Independent on Monday.
Mr McGuiness, a practising Catholic from Derry, revealed that it was his first visit to the Vatican and St Peter's. "I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience, he told me in the Paul VI Hall, during the Visite di Calore, or Courtesy Visits.
For two hours in the late afternoon following the consistory, the new cardinals receive all those who wish to pay them a courtesy call. It's a rare opportunity for members of the public to get into the Paul VI Hall and the Apostolic Palace without the usual many passes or letters of invitation!
The conversations and informal meetings held by the political leaders in Rome were a fulfilment of a dream articulated 28 years ago by the late great Pope John Paul II when he made a heart-felt plea for an end to violence in Northern Ireland during the first day of his historic Pastoral Visit to Ireland, 29 September to 1 October 1979.
"On my knees I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of peace, the Polish Pontiff pleaded during his homily at Drogheda, situated not far from the border with Northern Ireland.
This correspondent covered the Papal Visit to Ireland and heard first-hand the dramatic appeal made by Pope John Paul II, the first Pope from a Communist country.
Pope John Paul said: "To all men and women engaged in violence. I appeal to you, in language of passionate pleading. On my knees I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence and to return to the ways of peace.
"You may claim to seek justice. I, too, believe in justice and seek justice. But violence only delays the day of justice. Violence destroys the work of justice. "Further violence in Ireland will only drag down to ruin the land you claim to love and the values you claim to cherish.
"In the name of God I beg you: return to Christ, who died so that men might live in forgiveness and peace. He is waiting for you, longing for each one of you to come to him so that he may say to each of you: your sins are forgiven; go in peace.
There was a mood then, of confident expectancy that the cycle of violence and bloodshed would cease. Yet hopes for a cessation of violence were quickly dashed. The plea for peace by Pope John Paul II fell on deaf ears and was met by an intensification of the vicious terror campaign by Republican Provisional IRA and Loyalist UVF and UDA gunmen and bombers.
It was years later before "the men and women engaged in violence" heeded the words of Pope John Paul II and peace was restored to the troubled provinces.
The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, summed up the mood in Rome perfectly during her speech a lunch held at the Irish College in honour of Cardinal Seán Brady (Vice Rector and then Rector of the College from 1980 to 1993) following the Consistory, held in St Peter's Basilica.
She said: "It is an historic and very happy occasion, a cause for great celebration. As Cardinal of All Ireland he is the first to become Cardinal at a wonderful grace-filled moment in Irish history when there is a new mood of partnership within Northern Ireland and between North and South.
The President emphasised: "In Ireland we have been privileged after much suffering to see hearts soften, to see perspectives change, to see old enemies find the good and bring out the best in one another. Cardinal Brady has always believed such things possible even against huge walls of scepticism. He has been proved right.
Addressing the press when he arrived at the Irish College, Cardinal Seán Brady said: "These have been difficult, at times traumatic years for the Church in Ireland. Yet in the midst of these challenges, the overwhelming majority of priests and religious have continued to serve their people, in humble patience, with quiet devotion and outstanding generosity.
He concluded: "Being created a Cardinal is about strengthening the bonds of affection and unity between the See of Peter and the Church in Ireland. I have therefore no hesitation in saying to the lay faithful of Ireland today: take heart! Today is recognition of your goodness and fidelity. Today the Successor of Peter has not so much honoured me as honoured the people of Ireland for their dedication to faith, family and fair play.
Brady: Red Hat's For the Bunch
Nov 25, 2007
The Ring Mass -- or Day Two of what one denizen dubbed "Guido Marini Presents: Restoration" -- has wrapped, and the Pope is now lunching with all the cardinals present for the weekend.
Whispers in the Loggia, Sunday, November 25, 2007
Brady: Red Hat's For the Bunch
The Ring Mass -- or Day Two of what one denizen dubbed "Guido Marini Presents: Restoration" -- has wrapped, and the Pope is now lunching with all the cardinals present for the weekend.
Recap, etc. to come... but in the meantime, among yesterday's standout remarks were the post-consistory reflections of Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh.
Before an afternoon reception at the Irish College, the newly-elevated primate of All Ireland spoke to the press in attendance (fulltext; snipped below):
I would like to take the opportunity today to pay tribute to the priests and religious of Ireland, including those who work abroad.
These have been difficult, at times traumatic years for the Church in Ireland. Yet in the midst of some of these challenges, not least the appalling and criminal behaviour of some of their colleagues, the overwhelming majority of priests and religious have continued to serve their people with quiet devotion and outstanding generosity.
Today I believe, is in some way about them. It is about the quiet acts of kindness, the supportive, prayerful presence in times of tragedy and joy, the effort to build community and bring dignity, comfort and hope those in need. These are the things which have been the hallmark of generations of Irish priests and religious at home and across the world. It is a legacy I believe Ireland can be proud of. These are her sons and daughters and their generosity and commitment is celebrated in many parts of the world.
Being created a Cardinal today is about representing the bonds of affection and unity between the Office of Peter and the Irish Church. So I have no hesitation in saying to the priests and religious of Ireland today: “Take heart! Today is recognition of your service, of your efforts and your generosity. Today the Successor of Peter has not so much honoured me as honoured the people of Ireland and in a special way her priests and religious.”
I also ask the people of Ireland to give fresh heart to their priests and religious. The years ahead will bring a new emphasis on the role of the lay faithful. This is welcome. It is also appropriate and necessary. But you only have to visit the parishes, the youth groups, the schools and the community projects around the country to know the special affection and regard so many people have for their faithful, generous and hard working priests and religious. They have a unique and irreplaceable role in our society. I ask people to continue to give them their support, to encourage many young people to follow their example and to pray that Ireland will always recognise in justice and gratitude the valued role of her faithful priests and religious.
Two weeks ago Father Peter McVerry addressed the priests of the diocese of Armagh that I am so privileged to serve. He told us that the passion of God is compassion, especially for the poor and the vulnerable of our world. My hope is that through God’s grace, Ireland will continue to be known as a country which values and defends the irreplaceable role of faith, a faith which is compassionate and has at its heart a concern for the vulnerable and the poor.
My hope is that we will see our tradition as a country of faith as an asset, something which motivates and inspires our compassion for the world. That out of our new diversity and the particular lessons of our history, we will bring to the great issues of our day the insights and values which flow from faith in a God who has created and loves the world. I pray for a deep renewal of that faith. I pray that many Irish people will rediscover the joy which has brought such fulfilment to my own life, the joy of following Jesus Christ.
Respect for our neighbour, defence of the inherent dignity of the human person, generosity in service of others, concern for those most in need, turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, these are the things which have made Ireland the generous and peace-making country that it is. These are the things which flow from faith.
Finally, for my own part, as I thank his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the great privilege he has bestowed on me today, and through me on the whole Irish Church, I take to myself this prayer of St. Patrick:
‘But what can I say or what can I promise to my Lord, as I can do nothing that He has not given me? May He search my heart and my deepest feelings…. may God never permit it to happen to me that I should lose His people which He purchased in the utmost parts of the world. I pray to God to give me perseverance and to deign that I be a faithful witness to Him to the end of my life for my God.’
In the run-up to the consistory, Brady gave an extended interview to Vatican Radio, as did the new cardinal whose surname is Pirate... in Gaelic, of course.
Elect Brady takes strength from his Cavan roots
Nov 01, 2007
Family and local parish community are sources of strength and inspiration to the new Cardinal elect, Archbishop Sean Brady, Primate of All Ireland, who sees the achievement of a renewal of faith as the big challenge facing the Church and the Irish people in this the opening decade of the 21st century.
(anglocelt.ie, 24/10/2007) Archbishop Brady who has been chosen by Pope Benedict XV1 to be a new Cardinal speaks in an interview in this paper about the major issues facing the Church in the current era. Referring to the shortage of vocations to the priesthood he urged bishops and priests to speak more positively about the happiness they receive from serving God in their ministry and he asked parents to once again play an active role in promoting the priesthood as a vocation in their families.
A strong advocate of a political raproachment in the North, Archbishop Brady expressed satisfaction with the way the parties were working together in the restored institutions but quoting Pope Benedict he urged the politicians to continue to work diligently to ensure that the peace endured.
'Red hat' for new cardinal could mean red faces for Government
Oct 21, 2007
The 'red hat' for cardinal-elect Sean Brady could lead to a diplomatic incident for the Irish Government.
(independent.ie, October 21 2007) By tradition, a newly-crowned cardinal gets an official 'coat of arms' from the Government. But the suspension of Ireland's heraldic services over doubts about its legitimacy, has created the scenario where, if the new cardinal is to secure a coat of arms "he must either wait or apply to the queen of a foreign jurisdiction in London", according to one expert.
However, Michael Merrigan, head of the Irish Genealogical Society, has taken it upon himself to facilitate an intriguing solution.
Merrigan has written to the DUP Northern Ireland Minister for Culture, Edwin Poots, with the suggestion that Northern Ireland should petition Queen Elizabeth II for the granting of a royal warrant to devolve heraldic services to the Northern Assembly. The Northern Ireland Assembly could then ratify the new cardinal's coat of arms.
Such a decision would mean that if a Northern Irish heraldic officer, such as the Speaker in the Assembly acquired such powers, Irish sensitivities would be spared the spectacle of seeing an Irish cardinal having to acquire his coat of arms from our former colonial masters.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Merrigan was deeply critical of the failure of Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue, for failing to deal with this issue when he was minister. The head of the Irish Genealogical Society also urged Seamus Brennan to restore the society's proposal to the Seanad's Order Paper, so we could be spared any future "embarrassing questions about thelegitimacy of the coats of arms borne by everyone from cardinals to the gardai to Mary Mc Aleese".
For now, when it comes to the great issue of supplying the cardinal with a fine new coat of arms, Ireland is depending on the charity of a minister from a party led by Dr Ian Paisley -- a man who has built a career out of enmity with 'old red socks' in Rome.
Archbishop Brady appointed as third cardinal in Ireland
Oct 18, 2007
The idea that Catholicism was merely a "collection of prohibitions" must be corrected, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland, Dr Seán Brady said yesterday after the Vatican announced he is to be made a cardinal next month.
(The Irish Times, October 18, 2007) The 68-year-old native of Laragh, Co Cavan will be elevated to the Consistory of Cardinals in Rome on November 24th, joining fellow Irish cardinals Cathal Daly and Desmond Connell.
The archbishop, quoting Benedict XVI, said his constant mission must be to "be bold in speaking of the joy that comes from following Christ". The "life giving and life enhancing" message of the Gospel must be emphasised, while any negative views of Catholicism must be corrected, he added.
At a press conference beside St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, he called for prayers that Ireland would be renewed in its faith. He rejected any suggestion that such a renewal was a "lost cause".
"I never regarded [a renewal of faith] as a lost cause because it does not depend on me; it depends on the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit does not back losers," the archbishop said. While Ireland now has three cardinals for the first time, the archbishop will be the only one who is young enough to be entitled to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope. This was one of three additional responsibilities he would have as cardinal and "one I hope I will not have for a long time and one I may not have at all".
His two other tasks would be advising the pope through the Consistory of Cardinals and providing advice "on an individual basis" to the pope, he explained.
He said he was deeply honoured and humbled by the appointment, which was honouring the Catholic Church in Ireland and those individuals "who in spite of the great challenges faced by the church in Ireland in recent years, of the many reasons to feel hurt or unheard or uncertain, have remained faithful to the message of Jesus".
He thanked the leaders of the three main Protestant churches for their messages of support. "I hope that they will see in this announcement a renewed expression of the commitment of the Catholic Church to the vital work of ecumenical dialogue, and greater understanding and reconciliation be- tween the various traditions of Northern Ireland," he said. His appointment was also an expression of the pope's desire to see the peace process continue to succeed, he added.
Messages of congratulations were also extended from President McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the Office of First and Deputy First Minister, the British government and Opposition leaders.
Cardinal criticises EU attitude to Christian way of life
Jérusalem: un cardinal irlandais interdit de Mur des lamentations à cause de sa croix
Il cardinale Sean Brady elogia il primo ministro in via di dimettersi