His Holiness Pope
John Paul II has appointed the Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, Titular
Archbishop of Glendalough, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of
the Holy See at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva, as Coadjutor
to the Archdiocese of Dublin.
The appointment
was officially announced in Rome at 12.00 noon (11.00am Irish time)
today.
The Curriculum
Vitae of the newly appointed Coadjutor is attached.
The present
Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell, will continue in office
until the Episcopal See falls vacant (see explanatory note below).
The Archdiocese
of Dublin has an estimated Catholic population of 1,033,808 in 200 parishes
and includes the City and County of Dublin, nearly all of County Wicklow
and portions of Counties Kildare, Carlow, Wexford and Laois.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
Under the Code of
Canon Law (1983), a coadjutor bishop has the right of succession. When
the episcopal see falls vacant, the coadjutor immediately becomes the
bishop of the diocese for which he was appointed. The episcopal see
usually becomes vacant by the death of the diocesan bishop or by his
resignation accepted by the Holy See.
STATEMENT
of DESMOND CARDINAL CONNELL
3rd MAY 2003:
With great joy I
have received news of the appointment of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin,
as Coadjutor for the Archdiocese of Dublin. Together with the clergy,
religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese I warmly welcome Archbishop
Martin’s appointment.
I am deeply
grateful to the Holy Father for the gracious response of His Holiness
to the request I submitted to the Holy See (on 3rd May 2002) for the
assistance of a Coadjutor following the appointment of Bishop Moriarty
as Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin and of Bishop Walsh as Apostolic
Administrator of Ferns. The appointment of a highly-regarded member
of the Roman Curia and a distinguished envoy of the Holy See to the
United Nations conveys the Holy Father’s benevolence and particular
favour towards the Archdiocese as well as the importance the Pope attaches
to the Church’s mission to the contemporary secular world as represented
in the evolving circumstances of a changing Ireland. By his outstanding
priestly qualities and his exceptional experience Archbishop Martin
is particularly qualified to assist me in the service of the Archdiocese
and eventually to assume the leadership of our Catholic people. May
the Spirit of God be his strength and unfailing guide.
+ Desmond Cardinal
Connell,
Archbishop
of Dublin
COMMENTS
of ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN
I would like to
thank Cardinal Connell for his warm words of welcome. This is my first
day and I have a great deal to learn. I am happy therefore to have in
Cardinal Connell a novice-master who is wise, kind and patient.
I was born and grew
up in Dublin, but I have lived most of my life away from Ireland. I
left Geneva yesterday morning somewhat nervous. But I have to say, that
it only takes a couple of hours being back here before you realise that
Dublin is a great place to be.
After many
years in a very specialised ministry at the service of the Holy See,
I am happy to start being a real bishop, in a pastoral setting! What
is the job of a bishop? Today is the feast of the Apostles Saints Philip
and James. Philip was the apostle to whom a group of Greeks came and
asked: “Sir, we want to see Jesus”. A Bishop’s job is to preach the
word of God and to form Christian communities in which women and men
begin to know Jesus and to find in his person and in his message meaning
and hope for their real every day lives.
There are also many
who are estranged from the Church. I am aware that there are those for
whom meaning and hope were lost in their lives through the actions of
church personnel. Their hurt is all the greater if they feel betrayed
by someone they had turned to in trust.
I am prepared to
work with them and with all so that the Church in Dublin diocese can
be more and more Church at its best, bringing the comfort and strength,
that hope and meaning of the message of Jesus, which has inspired so
many in this city and diocese over the years.
I am happy that this
first meeting takes place here in the Pro Cathedral at a regular morning
Mass, in a church that is a unique centre of prayer and of the sacraments.
I think of the many great priests I knew who have worked here over the
years and I think of all the great priests who minister untiringly to
all the people of the diocese. I am glad that Fr. Martin Cosgrove, Chairman
of the Council of Priests is here today and I look forward to renewing
my acquaintance with all the priests during the coming months.
But I know
also that Saturday morning in down town Dublin is a time when the people
of a prosperous Dublin are out and about, talking, meeting and spending.
At the same time, the Pro Cathedral is a place where the poor and the
marginalised know they can come for help and support.
A bishop's
job is to help all those different groups to see Jesus, and to feel
his help in their lives. I look forward to working with Cardinal Connell
in this challenging task and I count on your prayers.
COADJUTOR
AUXILIARY BISHOP - EXPLANATORY NOTE
A Coadjutor Auxiliary
Bishop is an Auxiliary Bishop with the right of succession.
A Coadjutor is appointed when the Holy See considers it opportune. The
age of a Diocesan Bishop is most often the major consideration in terms
of the appointment (In this case Cardinal Connell requested the appointment
of a Coadjutor following the appointment of Bishop James Moriarty as
Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin and of Bishop Eamonn Walsh as Apostolic
Administrator of Ferns.)
Although an Auxiliary Bishop, the Coadjutor is not assigned a Titular
See (a diocese that no longer exists) as is the case with other Auxiliary
Bishops. (Archbishop Martin loses his present Titular See appointment
(Glendalough) on presentation of his letter of appointment to the Archbishop
of Dublin and the Diocesan College of Consultors.)
A Diocesan Bishop works closely with all those who share in his ministry.
When a Coadjutor Bishop is appointed the Church expects a particularly
close collaboration between him and the Diocesan Bishop. The Coadjutor
Bishop has in his mind and view his future pastoral ministry. The Diocesan
Bishop promotes projects and carries them through in such a manner that
the Coadjutor may easily step into the role when the time comes for
him to assume pastoral responsibility. (Directory of Pastoral Ministry
of Bishops (1973)
Statement
on the Appointment of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin as Coadjutor Archbishop
of Dublin.
From:
Fr. Martin Cosgrove, Chairman, Twelfth Council of Priests of Dublin.
In the name of the
Priests of the Archdiocese, I join with Cardinal Connell and the Auxiliary
Bishops, in the great tradition of the Diocese, in extending our sincerest
congratulations to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin on his appointment. He
can be sure of the warmest of welcomes as he prepares to assume his
new responsibilities.
He is a distinguished
native son and Priest of the Diocese who has served the Universal Church
with great distinction.
In facing
his new responsibilities he will not be alone. In returning to Dublin,
he will find a very committed, enthusiastic and supportive body of Priests,
thousands of exemplary religious and an energetic laity awaiting his
leadership. Beyond that, having regard to his background in Justice
and Peace, many on the margins and fringes of life will hope that in
him they have a champion.
I know that
Cardinal Connell has looked forward to this day for a long time. I,
personally, have experienced how he has borne far more than his share
of the heat of the day. May I pay tribute to him for his sincere determination,
not always appreciated or understood, to provide positive leadership
for the Diocese over the last fourteen or fifteen years.
Now that all
the speculation is over and the decision made, let us all go forward
as one with the mission of the Church to bring the Good News of the
Gospel to our world.
May God bless
and may Mary protect our Cardinal and his new Coadjutor as they lead
us in that mission.
For further information
please contact Mary Curtin or Fr Damian McNeice at 087- 6876609 and
086-8154544 respectively.
Damian McNeice
Communications Office,
Archbishop's House,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9
www.dublindiocese.ie
