Archbishop Diarmuid Martin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin – who is due to tender his resignation next month – has recalled a senior cleric from Rome and appointed him as Vicar with responsibility for priests.
The appointment of Msgr Ciaran O’Carroll, who is currently rector of the Pontifical Irish College, is being seen as some as Dr Martin wanting to position one of his key lieutenants ahead of the expected swift acceptance of his resignation when he turns 75 on April 8.
The appointment as Episcopal Vicar for Priests will also likely see Msgr O’Carroll become a member of the influential college of consultors – the body that will meet after Dr Martin’s retirement to elect a temporary administrator. The administrator is often a member of this group.
However, the Pope may decide to set the normal practise aside and appoint his own candidate to administer the diocese while the see is vacant and a successor is being chosen.
Confidant
Msgr O’Carroll is seen as a key confidant of Dr Martin’s and his return to Dublin will fuel speculation about succession in the sprawling archdiocese that the current archbishop has led since 2004.
Meanwhile, Rome-based Irish priest Fr Richard Byrne O. Carm is amongst those being spoken of as a potential successor to Dr Martin in Dublin. His name has emerged in conversations between priests of the diocese as well as influential clerics in other dioceses.
Fr Byrne, who currently serves the Carmelites in Rome as General Councillor for Europe, is a former provincial for Ireland and headmaster of Terenure College.
He also previously served as head of the Catholic Schools Partnership and is a familiar face to the hierarchy as well as many of the clergy of the Dublin Diocese and father afield.
To read Michael Kelly’s take on the Dublin Archdiocese, click here.