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RexGregorian
UK News

Pope accepts Irish cardinal's resignation

Cardinal Seán Brady asked to quit his role as is normal on his 75th birthday.

He said: "I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to the people, priests and religious of the Archdiocese of Armagh for their welcome, friendship and so much kindness over many years.

"It has been a great joy and privilege for me to serve as their Bishop and also to travel and meet people from all over Ireland in my role as Primate.

"I am very grateful to the leaders and members of the other Churches in the archdiocese and throughout Ireland and to all who have assisted me in any way to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

"The people of this Cathedral City of Armagh have been so good to me and will, of course, always remain close to my heart".

He's being replaced by Archbishop Eamon Martin who is now the leader of the Church in Ireland.

Archbishop Martin said he felt "honoured to assume the role of 'shepherd' in the Archdiocese of Armagh".

"I look forward to serving the people of 61 parishes in the counties of Armagh, Derry, Louth and Tyrone. I feel humbled to be following in the footsteps of St Patrick, and like him, I pray for 'God's strength to pilot me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's shield to protect me'.

"No doubt many challenges lie ahead of me, but I look forward with trust and hope in God to sharing with others the 'Joy of the Gospel'."

Cardinal Brady's term was overshadowed by clerical child sex abuse scandals and claims he helped to cover up one case.

He's faced repeated calls over the last few years from abuse survivors to stand down.

It's reported one of six abuse victims to meet the Pope, Irish woman Marie Kane, asked the pontiff to remove Cardinal Brady from his post because of the way he handled allegations.

The Cardinal was heavily criticised for allegedly forcing two victims of paedophile priest Brendan Smyth to keep quiet during an internal church inquiry in 1975 into the abuse of two children.

Evidence given by them was never handed over to the police allowing Smyth to continue abusing children before he was finally jailed in 1994.

Cardinal Brady said he was truly sorry for the suffering of victims.

During his 17 year term a series of investigations exposed shocking levels of abuse by priests in the Irish Catholic Church.

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