Archbishop Sean Brady, who will be made a Cardinal on November 24 by Pope Benedict XVI, remains strongly supportive of a Papal visit to Armagh and would also "welcome" a visit by the Queen to the Republic.He said that the Irish Bishops had formally invited the Pope to visit Ireland "to complete the pastoral visit" of John Paul II, who was prevented from coming to Armagh for security reasons.
Dr Brady said that there was no confirmation "at this stage" that the Pope had accepted the Irish invitation, but that he himself remains hopeful that such an event could take place.
He said: "I want to emphasise, however, that should it take place, it would be a pastoral visit. While I would hope that everyone would respect the right of the Holy Father to make such a visit, neither he nor I would expect anyone to be involved if they did not want to be."
Though Archbishop Brady did not say so directly, a Papal visit to Armagh would involve protocol and a welcome from - in theory - First Minister Dr Paisley or an Assembly representative.
He said: "It is an important principle of the Catholic faith that we respect the religious conscience of others, so if that means that Dr Paisley or any other public representative felt that they could not be involved in welcoming the visit, then I - and I know the Holy Father, too - would fully understand and respect that.
"I would take no offence if some people, because of their sincerely held convictions, felt that they could have no part in welcoming the Pope."
"I also hope that people would respect the right of Catholics to enjoy and to celebrate such a visit of their spiritual leader and a world figure."
Pope Benedict, he said, was "an amazingly quiet and reserved man, very modest and genuine, yet strong in his presentation. He is the authoritative teacher of the faith at the moment. He was close to Pope John Paul II and he is aware of what is happening in Ireland. Certainly he would be very pleased that the political obstacles seem to be diminishing".
Dr Brady also referred to the speculation that the Queen might be invited to Dublin.
He said: "I would welcome such a visit. I have good memories of meeting Her Majesty when she came to re-confer the status of a city on Armagh. I think that such a visit would help to symbolise the historical and geographical relationship that exists between these two islands. It is a unique relationship and my hope is that perhaps, for the first time in our history, we will maximise the potential there is for a strong and mutual partnership for the future."
Archbishop Brady admits he is "pleasantly surprised" at the political progress in Northern Ireland. He said: "It is important to celebrate how different things are now, compared to the darkest days of the Troubles. The last 12 months have seen rapid, almost unthinkable progress. With a commitment on everyone's part, just think what progress the next few years could bring."
And he believes that people are more relaxed politically and socially - at all levels. "The more normal things become, the more we will be able to deal with difficult political issues, without feeling that the whole future of peace is at risk."
However, he warned against complacency.
"A return to the horror of the past is becoming more and more unthinkable," he said. "It is often harder to build peace than to make war, and we have to continue to build on the peace."
Dr Brady also believes that people are beginning to see the benefits of having local politicians in charge.
He said: "They have much more interest in the local scene and they are more accountable. With all due respect to the Direct Rule politicians, they also have much more local knowledge."
Dr Brady believes that one of the big dangers of the peace process is that some people may be left behind economically. He called for more investment from the British and Irish Governments.
"The experience of the workers at Seagate is a warning to us all. The turmoil of the last 40 years has held us back economically and we need help to catch up. I am disappointed that the British Government has not done more to provide incentives for investment. Some of the billions that were spent each year on security should have been better invested in peace and prosperity. I agree that we have to stand on our own two feet, but after so many years of conflict it is not unreasonable to expect some help."
The Archbishop believes that people should support and encourage the politicians. "It is too easy to be cynical. We respect the important role of politicians as a vocation of service and this is why we pray for them. By and large the politicians here are very committed, very hard-working and very sincere in their desire to do good."
He spoke positively of the recent meetings between senior Catholic clergy and laity, and the local political parties, including the DUP, on social issues.
He said of the DUP meeting: "There was a good dialogue and debate, backwards and forwards. We had different views on certain issues, but it was amazing how much we had in common about preserving human life from its first moment until the end of its existence."
Dr Brady politely declined to be drawn on any theories about the " transformation" of Dr Paisley politically, but he said: "I found him engaging and respectful." He added: "So long as we respect the autonomy of our different roles, it is important that Church leaders and politicians engage in regular dialogue and an exchange of ideas."
The Archbishop takes a firm line on law and order. "Something which Pope Benedict said recently was very appropriate for Northern Ireland," he said. "He said that the 'good' Christian must also be an honest citizen. No Christian citizen or politician can turn a blind eye to the common good and undermine democracy."
He firmly backed the Social Security Minister, Margaret Ritchie, who withdrew a large grant from the Conflict Transition Initiative because of the lack of decommissioning by the UDA.
Dr Brady said: "Ms Ritchie took a very principled stand with great courage and against opposition which I sometimes found surprising. I regret that the conditions for maintaining the funding were not met and I believe that most people want to see all paramilitary groups decommissioning. I wonder do people really want their areas to be dominated by armed groups who are involved in illegal activities."
However, he emphasised his support for "the principle of providing funding targeted at helping those who feel alienated from the political process, to participate more constructively, but it can't be done without conditions".
The Archbishop also hit out at recent attacks on Orange Halls, north and south of the border. He said: "I have been very impressed with the dignity and sincerity of the members of the Loyal Orders I have met over the years.
"I think that, as Catholics, we have to be more open to the important religious aspects of the Loyal Orders, and members of these Orders have to help others to continue to understand their traditions and what they mean to them."
He memorably said, earlier this year, that the island of " saints and scholars" was becoming a place of "stocks and shares" .
"There's nothing wrong with stocks and shares in their own place, but we need to get a debate going about the purpose of our existence. Are we here on earth to have a good time or to lead a good life? That's a fairly basic question."
Dr Brady is also aware of the dangers of global warming and revealed that the Irish Bishops are about to issue a paper on this complex subject. He said that he tries to make his own contribution by turning off lights and other sources of energy when they are not needed, but added jokingly: " I have no plans to take to my bike just yet."
Like many other people he remains deeply worried about Iraq, but he has no clear answers as to an outcome.
He said: "I never felt that military intervention would lead to a successful regime change and I made my views known in the appropriate quarters. In the long term there should be a withdrawal, but from what I have been told by people on the spot, this should not be precipitous."
The Archbishop remains a strong supporter of traditional values on Catholic education and believes it remains the parents' right to choose the type of education they want for their children.
He also believes firmly in the protection of life and believes that the number of abortions being carried out is "shocking".
He said: "We have great sympathy for those in difficulty and we have organisations to help, but the first right of any human being is the right to life."
Dr Brady once again apologised for the hurt caused by clerical sexual abuse and undertook to do all in his power, with his colleagues, to ensure that it does not happen again.
He said: "We want to be a model of best practice, but that takes time. However, we are not at all complacent and we must be continually on the alert, from parish level upwards."
As Archbishop, and later on as Cardinal, one of his priorities will remain the continuation of good relationships with all the other Churches.
He is aware of the sense of hurt caused by the publication of the Vatican document, Dominus Jesus, which claims that the Reformed Churches are 'not true' Churches - or more pointedly that the truth 'subsists' only in the Catholic Church.
He said: "The second millennium was marked by division within the Church and my hope will be that this millennium will be marked by the journey towards unity. It is vital that we each continue to be true to what we believe about ourselves and I think it is a mark of the maturity of the ecumenical journey that we can speak to each other frankly about those things still dividing us."
Archbishop Brady regretted any hurt caused to Protestants by the interpretations of Dominus Jesus and emphasised that "we are clear that other Christians who share our belief in Baptism are our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ".
He added: "When I stand in my own Cathedral and recite the Apostles' Creed, which I have done in the Protestant Cathedral in Armagh and in a Presbyterian Church in Belfast, I am conscious of what we all have in common already. I think that is more than enough to be going on with."
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