Now that Benny XVI has well and truly ensconced himself in the Throne of Peter, he will no doubt have to look towards Ireland and start appointing successors in the following dioceses: Achonry - Bishop Flynn (b.1931)...
Down & Connor - Bishop Walsh (b.1930) and
Ossory - Bishop Forristal (b.1931)
......all of whom would now have tendered their letters of resignation to Rome and all that is awaited now is the announcing of their replacements...
This delay in so doing is nothing new but compared to how quickly Bishops Drennan and Brennan were appointed to Galway and Ferns respectively, one just has to wonder how long it will take Benny XVI to appoint to thes dioceses. Once he has done so he can then take a break as the next appointments are not due until 2009!!! If he can outlive those whose pontificial namesakes he is following (all only managing an average of 5 years) then the following vacancies arise in Irish Dioceses
2009 - Clogher - Bishop Duffy
2010 - Ardagh & Clonmacnoise - Bishop O'Reilly
Killaloe - Bishop Walsh
Elphin - Bishop Jones
Kerry - Bishop Murphy
2012 - Kildare & Leighlin - Bishop Moriarty
2013 - Clonfert- Bishop Kirby
2014 - Cashel & Emly - Archbishop Clifford
Armagh - Archbishop Brady
Cork & Ross - Bishop Buckley
2015 - Derry - Bishop Hegarty
Limerick - Bishop Murray
Meath - Bishop Smith
2016 - Waterford & Lismore - Bishop Lee
Providing Benny XVI doubles up on the time of his namesakes, by 2016 he will have appointed 20 new bishops to a total of 26 Irish dioceses averaging 2 appointments every year. The current junior backbenchers of the Purple Parliament are as follows:
Dublin - Martin b.1945
Ferns - Brennan b.1945
Tuam - Neary b.1946
Killala - Fleming b.1948
Dromore - McAreavey b.1949
Interesting times ahead, and considering our little vocations crisis to the priesthood, there will be yet hopefully more pastoral appointments to the frontbenches in Maynooth...only time will tell and the upcoming appointments as mentioned above will certainly give an indication of the mind of Benny XVI.....