The Pope has accepted the retirement request from the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.
He turned 75 earlier this year and, under Vatican rules, members of the clergy must offer to resign when they reach that age.
The Most Reverend Dr Dermot Farrell, has been appointed his successor.
The Bishop of Elphin, Kevin Doran has welcomed the appointment Bishop Dermot Farrell as the next Archbishop of Dublin. In a statement this morning Bishop Doran outlined how Bishop Dermot Farrell brings with him many years of pastoral experience in busy parishes as well as a ten year term as President of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Bishop Doran added that Since he joined the Episcopal Conference as Bishop of Ossory almost three years ago, I have come to appreciate Bishop Dermot’s hard work, his insightfulness and his good humour. I wish him every blessing as he takes on the pastoral leadership of this great Diocese which, along with many challenges, is blessed with many gifts and many kinds of service to the Lord.
The Bishop of Elphin also described today as a significant day for Archbishop Diarmuid Martin after over fifty years of service as a priest; more than twenty of them as a bishop. ‘We have known one another for over forty years and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him. I wish him health and happiness in his retirement’.
