Friday 17 February 2012

Chill in the Park

Whether it is just the way that it has been reported here (h/t Catholic Herald), or whether it really happened this way, it would appear that Archbishop Charlie Brown has received a less than warm welcome at Aras an Uachtaráin. Having made an effusive address to the President, the reply new nuncio got would make penguins think that there was a nip in the air.

President Higgins, in reply, asked the nuncio to “convey to the Pope my best wishes and the best wishes of the people of Ireland”.You are right in saying that the relationship between Ireland and the Holy See goes back to 1929 and there are many areas of international policy in which we have a shared view, areas of development, poverty, disarmament, and these have been fruitful for us,” he added.
Mr Higgins wished the archbishop “every happiness and success, both in your capacity as representative of the Holy See and also as dean of the diplomatic corps”.
Concluding with the words, “May I introduce you now to some people who will be of assistance to you in your work,” the President introduced him to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, who initiated the decision at Cabinet to close the Vatican embassy.
He could scarcely have said less, really.

But maybe this was just the way it was reported.

3 comments:

GOR said...

After his experience in the Curia the new Nuncio may feel that he has jumped “out of the frying pan, into the fire”. Or, given the climate difference, perhaps: “out of the fridge, into the freezer” would be more apt!

Anonymous said...

What do you expect from the provincialism of modern Ireland. It's pathetic.

gemoftheocean said...

" “May I introduce you now to some people who will be of assistance to you in your work,” the President introduced him to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, who initiated the decision at Cabinet to close the Vatican embassy."

Assist in work?! What on earth does that mean. Perhaps as a practice dummy for exorcism?