IRELAND’S decision to close its embassy to the Vatican is a huge blow to the Holy See’s prestige and may be followed by other countries which feel the missions are too expensive, sources have said.
The closure brought relations between Ireland and the Vatican, once ironclad allies, to an all-time low following the row earlier this year over the Irish Church’s handling of sex abuse cases and accusations that the Vatican encouraged secrecy.
Ireland will now be the only major traditionally Catholic country without an embassy in the Vatican.
"This is really bad for the Vatican because Ireland is the first big Catholic country to do this and because of what Catholicism means in Irish history," said a Vatican diplomatic source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Dublin’s foreign ministry said the embassy was being closed because "it yields no economic return" and that relations would be continued with an ambassador in Dublin.
The source said the Vatican was "extremely irritated" by the wording equating diplomatic missions with economic return, as the Vatican sees its diplomatic role as promoting human values.
Diplomats said the move might sway others to follow suit to save money because a double diplomatic presence in Rome is expensive.
It was the latest crack in relations that had been solid until a few years ago.
In July, the Vatican took the highly unusual step of recalling its ambassador to Ireland after Taoiseach Enda Kenny accused the Holy See of obstructing investigations into sexual abuse by priests.
The Dáil passed a motion deploring the Vatican’s role in "undermining child protection frameworks" following publication of a damning report on abuse in the diocese of Cloyne.
The report said clergy concealed the sexual abuse of children by priests as recently as 2009, after the Vatican disparaged Irish child protection guidelines in a letter to Irish bishops.
While Tánaiste and foreign minister Eamon Gilmore denied the embassy closure was linked to the row over abuse, Rome-based diplomats said they believed it played a big role.
"All things being equal, I really doubt the mission to the Vatican would have been on the list to get the axe without the fallout from the sex abuse scandal," one ambassador to the Vatican said.
Cardinal Sean Brady said he was profoundly disappointed by the decision and hoped the Government would "revisit" it.
"This decision seems to show little regard for the important role played by the Holy See in international relations and of the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries," said Cardinal Brady.
Dublin said it was closing its mission to the Vatican, along with those in Iran and East Timor, to help meet fiscal targets. The closures will save the Government €1.25 million a year.
Ireland will now be the only major traditionally Catholic country without an embassy in the Vatican.
"This is really bad for the Vatican because Ireland is the first big Catholic country to do this and because of what Catholicism means in Irish history," said a Vatican diplomatic source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Dublin’s foreign ministry said the embassy was being closed because "it yields no economic return" and that relations would be continued with an ambassador in Dublin.
The source said the Vatican was "extremely irritated" by the wording equating diplomatic missions with economic return, as the Vatican sees its diplomatic role as promoting human values.
Diplomats said the move might sway others to follow suit to save money because a double diplomatic presence in Rome is expensive.
It was the latest crack in relations that had been solid until a few years ago.
In July, the Vatican took the highly unusual step of recalling its ambassador to Ireland after Taoiseach Enda Kenny accused the Holy See of obstructing investigations into sexual abuse by priests.
The Dáil passed a motion deploring the Vatican’s role in "undermining child protection frameworks" following publication of a damning report on abuse in the diocese of Cloyne.
The report said clergy concealed the sexual abuse of children by priests as recently as 2009, after the Vatican disparaged Irish child protection guidelines in a letter to Irish bishops.
While Tánaiste and foreign minister Eamon Gilmore denied the embassy closure was linked to the row over abuse, Rome-based diplomats said they believed it played a big role.
"All things being equal, I really doubt the mission to the Vatican would have been on the list to get the axe without the fallout from the sex abuse scandal," one ambassador to the Vatican said.
Cardinal Sean Brady said he was profoundly disappointed by the decision and hoped the Government would "revisit" it.
"This decision seems to show little regard for the important role played by the Holy See in international relations and of the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries," said Cardinal Brady.
Dublin said it was closing its mission to the Vatican, along with those in Iran and East Timor, to help meet fiscal targets. The closures will save the Government €1.25 million a year.