Pope Benedict XVI has appointed a new bishop to the diocese of Down and Connor. He is 54-year-old Monaghan-born Monsignor Noel Treanor.
Monsignor Treanor currently works in Brussels with the European Bishops' Commission.
The commission monitors and analyses political developments in the EU and keeps the Catholic Church briefed on policy and legislation.
He is also a priest of the Clogher diocese.
Monsignor Treanor's new diocese is the second largest in Ireland after Dublin and includes the greater Belfast area.
It covers all of Co Antrim, the greater part of Co Down and part of Co Derry, and has 330,000 Catholics in 88 parishes and over 150 churches.
Monsignor Treanor will become the 32nd Bishop of Down and Connor.
He will be ordained on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on Sunday 29 June.
He replaces Dr Patrick Walsh, who submitted his resignation to the Pope in 2006 as required on reaching the age of 75. He had been Bishop since April 1991.
Primate of All Ireland Cardinal Seán Brady welcomed Monsignor Treanor's appointment:
He said: 'For over 30 years, Mgr Treanor has used his great qualities of heart and mind to serve the Church generously and effectively in different assignments in three countries.'+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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