I warmly welcome the appointment, by Pope Francis, of Bishop Kieran O’Reilly as Archbishop of Cashel and Emly.
Most reflective Catholics recognise the need for a fresh proclamation of the Gospel in Ireland at this time. The new Archbishop brings to his ministry the experience of years as a missionary in Liberia and Nigeria and in the leadership of the Society of African Missions, as well as his more recent experience as Bishop of Killaloe. I hope that this experience can help the Irish Church to re-present the good news of the Gospel to this generation of Irish people which, to use the words of Pope John Paul II, is like “a new continent to be won for Christ”.
I wish every blessing and good health to Archbishop Clifford in his retirement and thank him for his personal kindness over the years.
Bishop Kevin Doran