Words of Welcome from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin at Solemn Liturgical Reception in St. Mary's Pro Cathedral on Sunday February 19th to welcome His Excellency Archbishop Charles J. Brown, Apostolic Nuncio in Ireland and the Homily from Archbishop Brown. In our ceremony this morning we call to mind Archbishop Brown’s mission as the representative of the Holy See in Ireland: his task is to witness among us, within the Church and within society in Ireland, to the mission of the successor of Peter - a mission to foster deeper communion in the life of the Church and to foster communion, harmony and peace in the human family that is so often fragmented.
We wish you God’s blessing as you begin your ministry. We wish you personally fulfilment and happiness and we assure you of a warm welcome and support. We welcome the help of Pope Benedict in leading our wounded Church towards repentance and healing.
We desire to work together to build a different, more humble Church, but also a renewed Church, confident of the contribution of the teaching of Jesus Christ for the Ireland of tomorrow.
We desire to work together to build a different, more humble Church, but also a renewed Church, confident of the contribution of the teaching of Jesus Christ for the Ireland of tomorrow.
Some have noted that Archbishop Brown is an American and a native English speaker, as if that were something new.
Archbishop Brown is actually the fourth Apostolic Nuncio to come to us from the United States. The first Nuncio in Dublin, Archbishop Paschal Robinson, though a native of Dublin grew up in the United States and worked there as a journalist before becoming a priest.
Archbishop Gerald O’Hara, who was Nuncio in the 1950’s, and Archbishop Joseph McGeough, who was here in the 1960’s were also both Americans.
Archbishop Emanuel Gerada, born in Malta and Nuncio in the 1970’s was also a native English speaker.
What unites us here this morning and what distinguishes your ministry is not our native language or our ancestry but the common Catholic faith we profess in Jesus Christ and our common commitment to ensure that the Church of Jesus Christ be truly a sign of the unity of humankind bound together through the presence of God’s love among us.
The Holy See and Ireland have deep-rooted links, which go back long into our history. Irish people have profound bonds of affection for the Holy See.
The diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Ireland have been fruitful in fostering the interests of Ireland, of the Holy See and of our common interests in the good of the human family.
International relations and diplomacy are concerned not just with the political and economic challenges of the day, no matter how vital, but with the fundamental values and aspirations of people which must then shape relations between peoples and States and in this context the Holy See plays a vital role.