Archbishops to travel to Rome in preparation for the Apostolic Visitation

28 Sep 2010

PRESS RELEASE
28 September 2010

Archbishops to travel to Rome in preparation for the Apostolic Visitation

At the invitation of the Congregation of Bishops, the four archbishops of Ireland will travel to Rome next week in preparation for the forthcoming Apostolic Visitation to the four archdioceses of Ireland.

The archbishops: Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh; Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin; Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly; and, Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam, will meet with the four Apostolic Visitors in advance of their visitation which was announced last March in the Pastoral letter of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to the Catholics of Ireland.

The purpose of the Apostolic Visitation is to offer assistance and to contribute to the spiritual and moral renewal of the Church in Ireland.  The Visitation will facilitate reflection, evaluation and review of Church life.

ENDS
Notes for Editors
On 31 May last the following Apostolic Visitors were announced for the four archdioceses:
  • Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Emeritus Archbishop of Westminster, for the Archdiocese of Armagh;
  • Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, for the Archdiocese of Dublin;
  • Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, for the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly;
  • Archbishop Terrence Thomas Prendergast, Archbishop of Ottawa, for the Archdiocese of Tuam.

See www.catholicbishops.ie for the text of the Pastoral Letter of the Holy Father in English and Irish, including the Pope’s special prayer, extracts from the Pastoral Letter, FAQs and related Vatican video clips and the web cast recording of Cardinal Brady launching the Pastoral Letter from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh.

Further information:

Martin Long, Director of Communications 00353 (0)86 172 7678

Brenda Drumm, Communications Officer 00353 (0)87 310 4444