THE Catholic primate, Cardinal Sean Brady, is confident the new papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, will forge "strong and fruitful" links between Ireland and the Holy See.
The former monsignor from New York, who is being sent to Ireland to heal the damage caused by the clerical sex abuse scandal, was ordained an archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome last Friday.
Cardinal Brady, who attended the ordination, said: "I am confident that he will do excellent work in both forging strong and fruitful diplomatic links between Ireland the Holy See to the mutual advantage of both states and in the promotion of renewal of the church in Ireland."
According to Michael Kelly, deputy editor of The Irish Catholic, Archbishop Brown was carefully chosen for the role.
Since 1994 he has been attached to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. In 2000, he became chaplain to the Pope and in 2009 was appointed secretary of the International Theological Commission.
"Archbishop Brown will have to draw on all of his pastoral instincts and the skills he has honed in working for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in recent years to bring fresh vision to his role," said Mr Kelly.
Cardinal Brady, who attended the ordination, said: "I am confident that he will do excellent work in both forging strong and fruitful diplomatic links between Ireland the Holy See to the mutual advantage of both states and in the promotion of renewal of the church in Ireland."
According to Michael Kelly, deputy editor of The Irish Catholic, Archbishop Brown was carefully chosen for the role.
Since 1994 he has been attached to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. In 2000, he became chaplain to the Pope and in 2009 was appointed secretary of the International Theological Commission.
"Archbishop Brown will have to draw on all of his pastoral instincts and the skills he has honed in working for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in recent years to bring fresh vision to his role," said Mr Kelly.
And, he added, while the archbishop would have state-related diplomatic duties to attend to, it was expected his first concern would be the much-needed reform and renewal of the Church in Ireland.
The Pope also named 22 cardinals, but Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was not among them. Some believed it was only a matter of time before Dr Martin would be given the red hat.
Mr Kelly said Dr Martin had put his heart and soul into dealing with the issue of clerical child abuse.
"His appointment as a cardinal could serve as a ringing endorsement from Pope Benedict for the forthright way in which he has put his protection of children first and been willing to step on some toes to ensure that his brother bishops in Ireland followed suit."
He said it would be wrong to regard the passing over of Dr Martin as a snub as Ireland already had two cardinals — Desmond Connell and Sean Brady — and the Vatican might feel it did not need three.
"It is a pity though; he [Dr Martin] is a powerful voice and, unlike Cardinal Brady, cannot be accused over his own role in mishandling abuse allegations in the past."
The Pope also named 22 cardinals, but Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was not among them. Some believed it was only a matter of time before Dr Martin would be given the red hat.
Mr Kelly said Dr Martin had put his heart and soul into dealing with the issue of clerical child abuse.
"His appointment as a cardinal could serve as a ringing endorsement from Pope Benedict for the forthright way in which he has put his protection of children first and been willing to step on some toes to ensure that his brother bishops in Ireland followed suit."
He said it would be wrong to regard the passing over of Dr Martin as a snub as Ireland already had two cardinals — Desmond Connell and Sean Brady — and the Vatican might feel it did not need three.
"It is a pity though; he [Dr Martin] is a powerful voice and, unlike Cardinal Brady, cannot be accused over his own role in mishandling abuse allegations in the past."