Chai Brady
Pope Francis speaks with Britain's Prince Charles at the Vatican on the day of the canonization of St. John Henry Newman and four others.
Photo: CNS State failures in diplomacy marked the canonisation debacle, writes Chai Brady
Given the instrumental role St John Henry Newman played in laying the foundations of what is now the State’s largest university, the Government’s tardiness in organising a representative for his canonisation was baffling for many.
It seemed obvious that the Irish Government didn’t appear interested in the canonisation of St John Henry Newman this month, despite the behemoth role he played in establishing what is now University College Dublin, the building of University Church in Dublin and much more.
It was only after pressure mounted from politicians and the media when it was revealed that neither Government nor university planned to send any official representatives to the Vatican ceremony that the State was pressured into sending Education Minister Joe McHugh to Rome.
This stood in stark juxtaposition to the response from Britain, who had a large contingent of politicians and university representatives in Rome for the canonisation on October 13. This was largely down to stellar promotion of the event by Sally Axworthy, British Ambassador to the Holy See, who took the diplomatic reins in 2016.
After a consultation with the Newman Canonisation group, who have been promoting his sainthood, they advised her who may be interested in attending. Invites went out and the result was positive.
Envoy
Prince Charles – representing Queen Elizabeth – about a dozen MPs from Westminster, the envoy for freedom of religion or belief Rehman Chisti MP, Birmingham’s Lord Mayor Cllr Mohammed Azim as well as the ambassador herself, all attended. Neil Mendoza the Provost of Oriel College of the University of Oxford and Dame Hilary Boulding, president of Oxford’s Trinity College were some of the representatives of academic institutions.
With four others becoming saints on the same day, high-ranking government delegates attended for each of the new saints including: Minister of State for External Affairs Vellamvelly Muraleedharan who led the Indian delegation at the ceremony, justice minister Karin Keller-Sutter came for Switzerland, Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourã and President Sergio Mattarella of Italy. Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Chen Chien-jen also attended.
The ambassador informed the Irish Government about the canonisation in good time for attendance to be arranged”
Despite this massive international presence, and in particular English presence, just days before the canonisation it seemed that the only official Irish representative at the canonisation of a man to whom modern Ireland owes so much was going to be the Irish Ambassador to the Holy See, Derek Hannon, who would only have to walk a few hundred metres after stepping out of the embassy to reach St Peter’s Square.
It should not be assumed, however, that the ambassador was in any way to blame for the poor show by official Ireland: it is understood that he informed the Irish Government about the canonisation in good time for attendance to be arranged, but that there was seemingly no interest.
This could arguably be symptomatic of a general failure in today’s Ireland to grasp how the Vatican’s ‘soft power’ can magnify the diplomatic reach of countries, something others are very much aware of.
Over the last decade or so many countries have endeavoured to have and maintain strong and positive diplomatic relations with the Holy See, considering the global reach of the Catholic Church. Speaking in 2012 Baroness Warsi, the Muslim then co-Chairman of Britain’s Conservative Party, expressed this in no uncertain terms while leading the largest ever ministerial delegation from the UK to the Vatican.
Declaring that she was honoured to stand in what is for one billion people the “spiritual capital of the world”, she said: “This year marks 30 years since full diplomatic relations were re-established between us. We want to build upon our bond, to show it to the rest of the world, and to let it inspire others. Because our relationship enables us to act together in the name of the common good.”
Only months beforehand, the Irish Government had decided to close the Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See, a decision the Department of Foreign Affairs claimed was “driven by economic factors deriving from our need to cut public expenditure and to focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery”.
The fact that this decision came soon after then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s Cloyne speech inevitably invited speculation about whether there was another agenda at work, and about whether the Government realised the value of the diplomatic amplifier it was set to shun.
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Although the Embassy was restored, with Emma Madigan and then Derek Hannon taking on the role, events last week suggest that lessons have not been learned at the highest levels of official Ireland.
It was, after all, only on Tuesday, October 8, a few days before the canonisation and after significant haranguing by this paper, that it was announced that Minister McHugh would travel to Rome to attend the canonisation ceremony in an official capacity. According to the Department of Education: “The Government was in contact with the Holy See, via the usual diplomatic channels, in relation to a Government representative attending the canonisation ceremony. The opportunity to attend the ceremony was conveyed to Minister McHugh via the Department of the Taoiseach at the request of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.”
They added that Minister McHugh was “honoured to have been asked to represent the Government at such a significant ceremony to mark the life, works and legacy of Cardinal Newman and he is delighted to attend”.
It could be that the Government still lack the imagination and vision to recognise the importance of Holy See diplomacy”
Shortly afterwards, UCD similarly bent to pressure and announced it was also sending a representative. “In light of the Government decision to send Minister for Education, Joe McHugh, to represent the Government at the canonisation of John Henry Newman, UCD will be represented by Vice-President, Professor Orla Feely,” the university said in a statement.
On the day of St John Henry’s canonisation the Taoiseach released a statement saying it was a “recognition of his great intellectual and theological influence, his pastoral dedication – particularly to the poor, and his work to foster understanding between faiths”. This very positive message could be perceived as too little too late, considering the hasty arrangements made after what appeared to be apathy, ignorance or oversight at the least on the State’s part.
Separation
It could be that the Government still lack the imagination and vision to recognise the importance of Holy See diplomacy, as has dawned on many other countries.
Possibly this is due to a fear of criticism for appearing to have dealings with the Catholic Church even at a diplomatic level, when there are many who would be happy to see a complete separation of Church and State.
Another possibility is that they didn’t see the significance of St John Henry’s canonisation, which is also probable. Either way, what happened in the days running up to the canonisation in the Vatican didn’t reflect well on the Irish Government.