May 31, 2010 - Press Release of Archdiocese of Dublin Welcoming Announcement of Apostolic Visitation

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin welcomes the Press Statement of the Holy See announcing that the Apostolic Visitation of the Church in Ireland, already announced by Pope Benedict XVI in his Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, is to begin shortly.

Archbishop Martin looks forward to receiving the Formal document which will define the nature and the precise terms and objectives of the Visitation.  The Visitation is an important element in the broad process being set in place by Pope Benedict to assist the Catholic Church in Ireland in its renewal.

Archbishop Martin welcomes in particular the announcement that the Visitation is being asked to evaluate the current response to victims and the quality of the assistance which the Church in Ireland owes to survivors.

The Archbishop warmly welcomes the nomination of Cardinal Sean O’ Malley Archbishop of Boston, as Apostolic Visitor to the Archdiocese of Dublin.  Cardinal O'Malley's experience and personal commitment render him particularly suited to bring ecclesial solidarity to the faithful and the clergy of the Archdiocese of Dublin at this moment, in which the Church in Dublin addresses the truth of a dark moment in its history and undertakes a period of conversion, purification and renewal.

The appropriate structures of the Archdiocese continue in their reflection on the grave facts identified in the Murphy Report and are offering full cooperation in the ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by An Garda Siochana in the wake of the publication of the Report.