Pope leads tributes to Cardinal's peace legacy

The Pope today hailed the peace-building work of Ireland’s former Roman Catholic Primate, Cardinal Cahal Daly, as his body lay in state in Belfast.

Pope Benedict said he was deeply saddened by the death of Cardinal Daly and passed his condolences to his family, fellow clergy and all the people of Ireland.

“I recall with gratitude Cardinal Daly’s long years of devoted pastoral service to the church as priest, bishop and primate of all Ireland, his assistance as a member of the college of cardinals and especially his sustained efforts in the promotion of justice and peace in Northern Ireland,” he said.

He paid tribute to the late cleric as hundreds of mourners filed past his open coffin inside St Peter’s Cathedral in west Belfast.

Earlier, senior clerics joined church representatives of different faiths, politicians and members of the public as the body of the 92-year-old was carried inside.

The retired church leader died on Thursday in Belfast City Hospital after a short illness.

Cardinal Daly was Archbishop of Armagh and Catholic Primate of all Ireland from 1990 until 1996, but for much of his career he was based at St Peter’s.

His body will lie in state inside the cathedral through today and tomorrow, before it is taken to Armagh ahead of Requiem Mass at Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital, St Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday.

Pope Benedict said his thoughts and prayers were with the mourners as they prepared to lay the cardinal to rest.

“To all gathered for the solemn rites of Christian burial and especially to Cardinal Daly’s relatives and friends, I cordially impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of consolation and hope in the Lord,” he said in a statement.

Led by current Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor, a group of clerics walked in front of Cardinal Daly’s coffin as it was taken into St Peter’s. The cardinal’s crosier was placed on top of his casket with his hat carried ahead on a small table.

Mass was held before his body was carried to a side room to lie in state.

During the service, Bishop Treanor said colleagues in the church would particularly remember Cardinal Daly for the personal and spiritual support he gave them in the harrowing and traumatic years of the Troubles.

“The priests, religious, and people of God of this diocese know and remember the energy, dedication and pastoral insight he invested in his ministry as bishop here among us in difficult and trying times,” he said.

“The legacy of his long life’s work and ministry as bishop lives on in our faith and in the life of our local church.”

He added: “Among us he was a father, a leader and a prophetic champion of justice, peace and reconciliation.”

Since his death, the former leader of the Church in Ireland has been praised for helping to nurture the peace process.

Current Catholic Primate, Cardinal Sean Brady, led the tributes.

He said: “At a critical and troubled time in Irish history, he was prophetic in his conviction that lasting peace can only be built on justice, mutual understanding and respect for the traditions and aspirations of others.

“He was firm and courageous in his absolute rejection of violence as a means of achieving political ends.

“With leaders of other Christian traditions, his work for reconciliation helped to create the environment and principles upon which a lasting political accommodation was eventually reached.”

Cardinal Daly’s term in high office was a period of Irish history dominated by the violence of the Troubles.

He had served as Bishop in the Down and Connor area from 1982-90, a diocese which includes Belfast.

Born in Co Antrim, Cardinal Daly was an outspoken critic of violence, and particularly of the IRA.

He took on the post of Catholic Primate at the age of 73 and was a surprise choice for the position, but became a prominent figure.

He retired in October 1996, when Cardinal Brady took over the role, and returned to his study of philosophy.

His later years in office had coincided with revelations of child sex abuse cases involving members of the Catholic clergy in Ireland.

As the controversy grew, Cardinal Daly denied there had been a cover-up of abuse cases and guidelines were introduced for bishops in the Church shortly before he left office on the grounds of his age.

Cardinal Daly was a renowned scholar and had many philosophical papers and books published.

Presbyterian Moderator Dr Stafford Carson said: “Completely and totally opposed to violence, he was an outspoken critic of the armed campaign of the IRA and recognised that any future arrangements for the governance of Northern Ireland had to involve Unionist and Nationalist, Protestant and Catholic in order to create a community in which everyone could feel at home.”

Sinn Féin’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness expressed his condolences and said: “It is no secret during the conflict that Republicans and Cardinal Daly never enjoyed a close relationship.

However, in the course of recent years I met with him on numerous occasions, all of which were friendly and warm encounters.”

President Mary McAleese said: “Cardinal Cahal Daly had a long and distinguished career and will be fondly remembered by many people on this island.”

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Cardinal Daly had made a huge contribution to both the Catholic Church and civic society in Ireland.

Church of Ireland Primate Alan Harper said: “During the most challenging of times, the Cardinal gave wise and courageous leadership both as Bishop of Down and Connor and subsequently as Archbishop of Armagh.”

The Democratic Unionist Party’s Arlene Foster extended her sympathy to Cardinal Daly’s family circle.

Former British prime minister Tony Blair, who helped broker the Good Friday peace agreement in the North in 1998, praised the Cardinal’s contribution to ending violence.