Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

The Papal Nuncio's residence in Dublin. Julien Behal/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Vatican

Vatican confirms appointment of new Papal Nuncio to Ireland

Charles J Brown will take up residence in Ireland in a move seen as an attempt by the Vatican to patch up relations with Ireland.

THE VATICAN HAS named its new Papal Nuncio to Ireland.

American priest the Right Reverend Monsignor Charles J Brown will be the Pope’s envoy, filling the spot vacated by Dr Giuseppe Leanza in July.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told TheJournal.ie that the monsignor’s nomination was given Cabinet approval last Tuesday.

Any ambassador to a country must be first approved by the Government.

The Vatican has said that Brown will take up residence in Ireland, RTÉ reports. That decision comes despite the Government’s closure of the Irish embassy in the Vatican earlier this year.

The 52-year-old Irish-American priest was ordained in New York 1989 but has spent the past 18 years in Rome. However, he is not deemed part of the Vatican’s diplomatic corps.

He has been attached to the Holy See’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) since 1994 and a chaplain to the Pope since May 2000. The CDF deals with allegations of clerical abuse and Brown’s appointment has been taken as a signal from the Vatican that it wants to mend relationships with Ireland.

Brown is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Oxford University.

The previous Papal Nuncio Dr Leanza was summoned back to the Vatican in July for ‘consultations’ in the aftermath of the publication of the Cloyne Report, which drew a bitter reaction from the public and from political leaders.

Read more: Ireland’s Papal Nuncio to be transferred to Czech Republic>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
17
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.