Bishop of Kerry Dr Bill Murphy has criticised the decision to close the Irish Embassy to the Vatican.
He did not believe it was for purely economic reasons, comparing the savings of about €700,000 to what some RTÉ stars were paid.
“The Holy See worked quietly behind the scenes” and was a hugely important force, Dr Murphy said.
He said Ireland operated a mission to Ramallah in the West Bank, which is not a state, and closing the embassy did not make sense.
He was speaking on Radio Kerry.