CARDINAL SEAN BRADY

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has been elevated to Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. Archbishop of Armagh Sean Brady said he was humbled and honoured to have been bestowed with the traditional red hat. The 68-year-old Cavan man, who will now be able to help elect the next pope, said he was grateful for the thousands of good wishes he has received, in particular from members of the Loyal Orders. “Their sentiments have been a real encouragement to me,'' he said.“They are one of the many reasons why I have great hope for our future. It is a hope rooted in mutual respect and dignity. “All of this leads me to believe that we are indeed in a new place - in a new era - an era of great promise right now.'' Cardinal Brady said having members of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly at the ceremony also gave him great hope for the future. “I take this opportunity to ask people to pray that the peace process in Northern Ireland will continue to be a source of pride and joy and inspiration to peace makers across the world,” he added. For the first time in history, there are now three Cardinals on the island of Ireland. President McAleese, who led the Irish delegation at the consistory, said Cardinal Brady was a tremendously pastoral man of great humility, underpinned by great scholarship, who deserved the honour. “Right around Ireland, it has been acknowledged as a very happy decision as it puts Ireland in the position, for the first time ever in our history, of having three cardinals,'' said Ms McAleese.“That has to be a remarkable testament to the kind of faith-filled people the Irish are, to the kind of leaders that they have had in the Church, that at this time in our history, a very wonderful and grace-filled space in our history, we have the privilege of having three cardinals.”

Cardinal Cahal Daly and Cardinal Desmond Connell joined Irish Archbishops and Bishops, and Cardinal Brady's family, friends and school friends for the moving ceremony in the Vatican. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward, Minister Paul Goggins, and Tommy Gallagher MLA, attended the service and lunch at the Irish College. “He is a man of great integrity and spiritual strength and I know that his elevation to the College of Cardinals will be a matter of much rejoicing for the Catholic community throughout Ireland,” said Mr Woodward. Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern, Progressive Democrat Noel Grealish, and Green Party Senator Deirdre de Burca also gathered at the Vatican for the consistory event. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern paid tribute to the cardinal for his leadership role in Northern Ireland and his tireless work on behalf of peace and reconciliation.“As Primate of All Ireland, he has exercised his pastoral care in a thoughtful, modest but always compassionate manner,'' said Mr Ahern.“His role, especially in partnership with the leaders of the other Christian denominations, has played no small part in the message of hope which the Northern Ireland peace process represents.”

On his creation as a cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI, assigned to Cardinal Brady the titular Church of St Cyricus and Julitta, named after martyrs.