Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza's future as Papal Nuncio to Ireland remains unclear following the Vatican’s decision to recall the prelate to Rome, ostensibly for consultations over the Cloyne report.
In a move that surprised members of the Irish hierarchy and the Government, the Vatican’s press office issued a statement on Monday announcing the decision.
A press release stated, “Following the publication on 13 July of the Irish Government’s Commission of Inquiry Report into allegations of abuse of minors by clergy of the Diocese of Cloyne, otherwise known as the ‘Cloyne Report’ and, in particular, the reactions that have followed, the Secretary of State has recalled the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, HE Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza for consultations.”
Vice director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr Ciro Benedettini told journalists that the Nuncio’s recall was intended primarily to allow the Secretary of State and other dicasteries involved to consult with those working on the ground in order to prepare the official answer of the Holy See to the Irish Government following the Cloyne Report.
Acknowledging that the recall of a papal nuncio is a measure seldom used by the Holy See, Fr Benedettini said the move should be interpreted in line with the Holy See’s desire for serious and effective cooperation.
He added that it denoted the seriousness of the situation, and was indicative of the Holy See’s regret regarding some “excessive reactions” to the report.
This was seen as a direct criticism of Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s stinging attack on the Vatican in his Dáil address last Wednesday.
In his speech, the Taoiseach condemned the “dysfunction, disconnection, elitism and narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day.”
He also accused the Vatican of “managing” the rape and torture of children in order to uphold its own power and reputation.
Spokesman for the Vatican, Fr Federico Lombardi responded to the Taoiseach’s address by calling for “objectivity” in the debate and he said a formal response would be forthcoming “at an opportune moment.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, Charlie Flanagan, called for the expulsion of the Nuncio on the grounds that “if any foreign state connives to undermine Irish law, their position on Irish soil is untenable.”
Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, said a response from the Vatican is “urgently needed.”
She noted that the catalogue of failures detailed in the report were not from a different era but were “about Ireland now.”
The Murphy Commission noted in its report that the Papal Nuncio had told the Commission that he could not assist it in its work because the nunciature “does not determine the handling of cases of sexual abuse in Ireland and therefore is unable to assist you in this matter.”
Responding to the news of Archbishop Leanza’s recall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Eamon Gilmore said on Monday that the “decision to recall the Papal Nuncio to the Vatican for consultations is a matter for the Holy See.”
“The Government is awaiting the response of the Holy See to the recent report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne and it is to be expected that the Vatican would wish to consult in depth with the Nuncio on its response,” he said.
There is still no knowledge of the whereabouts of the former Bishop of Cloyne.
When asked about this, Archbishop Dermot Clifford of Cashel responded, “Bishop Magee is a retired bishop and is accountable only to the Pope.”
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