Cathal BarryCoadjutor Archbishop of Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin, becomes Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland in succession to Saint Patrick.
Pope Francis has accepted Cardinal Seán Brady’s resignation paving the way for Archbishop Eamon Martin to take up the reigns as leader of the Church in Ireland.
From 11am today (Monday) the Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin (52), becomes the 116th Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland in succession to Saint Patrick.
“I am pleased that Pope Francis has today accepted the resignation which I offered to him on the occasion of my seventy fifth birthday,” Cardinal Brady said in a statement.
“Above all I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to the people, priests and religious of the Archdiocese of Armagh for their welcome, friendship and so much kindness over many years. It has been a great joy and privilege for me to serve as their Bishop and also to travel and meet people from all over Ireland in my role as Primate.
“I am very grateful to the leaders and members of the other Churches in the archdiocese and throughout Ireland and to all who have assisted me in any way to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. The people of this Cathedral City of Armagh have been so good to me and will, of course, always remain close to my heart. I thank the City Council and send greetings today to all of you who live and work in this historic city,” he said.
The cardinal also wished his successor, Archbishop Martin, well in his new ministry.
“I warmly congratulate Archbishop Eamon Martin who today becomes Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and Coarb Phadraic.
“I pray that God may give to Archbishop Eamon in abundance all the graces he needs and I assure him of my help and total support at all times. Indeed I am quite confident that the people of the Archdiocese – priests, religious and lay faithful – will give to their new Archbishop the same whole-hearted support and faith-filled loyalty which they have always given to me and for which I will be eternally grateful,” he said.
Cardinal Brady was the subject of sharp criticism after a 2010 documentary revealed that he had been involved in a 1975 canonical inquiry into a notorious abuser-priest, Norbertine Fr Brendan Smyth. Despite the canonical process, Fr Smyth evaded the civil authorities for decades and went on to abuse in Northern Ireland, the Irish Republic and the United States before finally being arrested in 1994.
As recently as July, Marie Kane, an Irish survivor of abuse who met with Pope Francis, revealed that she had asked the Pontiff to remove Dr Brady as archbishop and Primate of All-Ireland.
Cardinal Brady had tendered his resignation last month ahead of his 75th birthday, the obligatory retirement age for members of the hierarchy.
"I did so in anticipation of my seventy-fifth birthday which I will celebrate tomorrow," he said at the time.
"I look forward to the day when my resignation will be accepted and when Archbishop Eamon will take over as Archbishop, a position for which, I believe, he is excellently prepared," the Cardinal added.