Press Release - 28 October 2006
Archbishop Brady leads Irish Bishops in thanking Pope Benedict XVI 

At the conclusion of their ad limina pilgrimage to the Holy See, the Archbishop 
of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Seán Brady, and the Bishops of 
Ireland, today met with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in the Vatican.

In a wide-ranging reflection to the Holy Father, Archbishop Brady invited Pope 
Benedict to Ireland as well as addressing current issues for the Church and Irish 
society, including: economic prosperity; the influence of secularism; pastoral 
care and faith development; the Catechism of the Catholic Church; understanding 
of the Eucharist; Deus Caritas Est; Northern Ireland; co-operation between Christians 
of all denominations; migration; Catholic education; dialogue between Church and 
State; child abuse; the vital role of priests, religious, missionaries and lay 
faithful; and, a request that the great Irish missionary, St Columbanus, be 
proclaimed a co-patron of Europe.

Addressing the Holy Father, Archbishop Brady said: “We thank you for the individual 
audiences graciously granted to us over the past two weeks and for the words of 
wisdom and strength that you have spoken to us.  We also know that our joy and 
gratitude are shared by the Catholic people of Ireland on whose behalf we convey 
greetings and heartfelt good wishes.  

“Holy Father, on behalf of the priests, religious and lay faithful of Ireland we 
take this opportunity to invite you to come among us in the footsteps of St Patrick, 
and your venerable Predecessor, Pope John Paul II.”

Archbishop Brady highlighted the social, moral and spiritual challenges that exist 
in contemporary Ireland.  He said: “The influence of secularism has struck Ireland 
with great speed and intensity.  Dramatic and disorientating changes are taking 
place, which pose enormous challenges for the preaching of the Gospel.  This is 
particular manifest in a loss of Christian memory.

“It is for this reason that we have made pastoral care and faith development, in 
the context of a new evangelization, a key priority.  Attention is also being given 
to the development of a strategic plan for communications and a systematic presentation 
of doctrinal and moral themes by the Episcopal Conference.  In the coming year we 
intend to host a conference on Deus Caritas Est, your first encyclical letter.”

Archbishop Brady thanked Pope Benedict for his continuing support in seeking 
to bring healing to those affected by the painful tragedy of child abuse, 
saying: “Holy Father, no issue has received more time or attention from the Irish 
Episcopal Conference than the agonising problem of responding to those who have 
had their trust betrayed, their lives devastated and often their faith destroyed 
by sexual abuse inflicted on them by some priests and religious.  This abuse has 
been a source of great scandal and discouragement to the whole Catholic community,
including a great majority of priests and religious who continue to strive to 
lives of holiness and selfless service in the name of the Lord.  

“We thank you for the concern you have expressed for those who have been so 
grievously harmed and your sensitivity to the impact of this issue on our work 
and priorities.  We value your continued support, and that of the various 
Dicastaries of the Holy See, in seeking to bring healing to those who have 
been affected by this painful tragedy.”

Archbishop Brady also addressed the role of the Church in Catholic education 
saying: “The bishops and religious continue to work with the civil authorities 
in both jurisdictions to ensure ongoing respect for the right of parents to 
have their children educated in accordance with their philosophical and 
religious convictions.  We have been particularly anxious to challenge the 
view that faith-based education is an obstacle to tolerance and inconsistent 
with the demands of an increasingly diverse society.” 
  
Archbishop Brady thanked Pope Benedict for his interest in Northern Ireland 
and for his concern for all those who have suffered as a result of violence.  
Archbishop Brady also spoke about the importance which the Holy Father placed 
“on the search for unity and communion among the followers of Christ” at the 
outset of his pontificate.  In the context of healing and reconciliation being 
issues of global concern, he spoke of the contact between the Catholic Church 
in Ireland and the thirteen members of the Irish Council of Churches through 
the Inter-Church meeting.

Archbishop Brady spoke of the influence migration, particularly from Middle 
and Eastern Europe, is having on the Irish Church, saying: “Many of those who 
come bring with them a resolute commitment to their Christian faith and a new 
vibrancy to their local Catholic parishes.  Providing pastoral care to those 
new members of our national family remains a key priority for individual bishops 
and for the Episcopal Conference.”

Archbishop Brady thanked the Holy Father for his concern for the welfare and 
morale of priests in their vital ministry, for the religious communities in 
Ireland, for our missionaries and for the lay faithful.  On behalf of the 
Church in Ireland, Archbishop Brady asked the Holy Father to consider proclaiming 
St Columbanus co-patron of Europe along with St Benedict, St Cyril and St Methodius, 
St Catherine of Siena, St Brigid and St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

Notes for Editors

* For the full text of Archbishop Brady’s address, Pope Benedict XVI’s address 
to the Irish Bishops and background information on the ad limina pilgrimage by 
the Bishops, see www.catholiccommunications.ie/adlimina2006

* The Bishops’ visit is known historically as the “ad limina Apostolorum” visit – 
or “to the threshold of the Apostles” – a reference to the pilgrimage to the 
tombs of  Saints Peter and Paul that the bishops are required to make.

* The ad limina pilgrimage by Irish Bishops to the Holy See took place between 
the 16th and 28th October 2006.  All Bishops charged with the leadership of a 
diocese are required to make the ad limina pilgrimage normally every five years 
but due to the ill health of the late Pope John Paul II, the last such visit took 
place in 1999.  There are 26 dioceses on the island of Ireland and all diocesan 
bishops are taking part in this pilgrimage.

* The ad limina pilgrimage is designed to celebrate and strengthen the bishops’ 
communion with the universal Church and with the successor of Peter, Pope Benedict 
XVI. The visit involves a series of meetings that combine prayer, pastoral planning 
and personal  audiences with the Holy Father.  Today, Saturday 28th October, all 
the bishops had an audience with the Holy Father.

* During the pilgrimage the Bishops met with members of the Irish religious and 
Irish community living in Rome.  The Bishops celebrated Mass in the four basilicas 
of Rome: St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran’s, St. Mary Major’s and St Paul’s on the 
following dates:

-	Mass at the tomb of St Peter, Monday 16th October at which the Principal 
Celebrant was Dr Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
-	Mass in the Baptistry of the Basilica of St. John Lateran on Thursday 
19th October at which the Principal Celebrant was Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop 
of Cashel and Emly.
-	Mass in the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Friday 20th October at 4.00pm 
at which the Principal Celebrant was Dr Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin 
and Primate of Ireland.
-	Mass at the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls on Monday 23rd October 
at which the Principal Celebrant was Dr Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam. 

The bishops also concelebrated Mass at the catacombs of Santa Priscilla on Tuesday 
24th October at which the Chief Celebrant was Dr Thomas Flynn, Bishop of Achonry, 
and on Friday 27th at the Basilica of San Clemente (home to the Irish Dominicans 
in Rome) at which the Bishop of Ossory, Dr Laurence Forristal, was Principal 
Celebrant. Dr. Patrick Walsh, Bishop of Down and Connor was Chief Celebrant at 
Mass in the Pontifical Irish College on Sunday morning, 22nd October. At the 
Mass the bishops were joined by the staff and students at the College as well 
as members of the Irish community living in Rome and Irish pilgrims visiting the 
Eternal City. 

ends
28 October 2006