Gratitude for ‘devoted and faithful service’

Pope Francis expressed his condolences “with deep gratitude for the devoted and faithful service” of Archbishop Noël Treanor, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, who passed away aged 73 after a heart attack on 11 August. The Archbishop was buried in Belfast on 20 August, in the Resurrection Chapel of Saint Peter’s cathedral after the Requiem Mass. In a message signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, addressing Bishop Alexander Aloysius McGuckian of Down and Connor — the diocese of which Archbishop Treanor was Bishop Emeritus — the Pope is saddened by the “untimely death”, and reassures his “spiritual closeness” to his family, the clergy, the religious and the nonreligious of the Diocese. The Pope then commended his soul to the loving mercy of Christ the Good Shepherd, and imparted his blessing “as a pledge of peace and consolation in the Lord, to all who mourn the late Archbishop in the sure hope of the Resurrection”.

The Holy Father’s message was read by Archbishop Luis Maiano Montemayor, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, after the Requiem Mass. Many people attended the Mass, including high representatives of the Church, Irish bishops, and various ecumenical representatives.

In his homily, Bishop McGuckian remembered Archbishop Treanor’s “capacity to create strong bonds of friendship”, a capacity acquired at a young age in his family. Recalling his “great privilege of working with the Archbishop”, especially on matters of justice and peace, the Bishop emphasised his dream for the diocese where “all the baptised, the clergy, the religious and non, could work together for the mission of the Church and the common good”.

Archbishop Treanor’s efforts and commitment to the EU and the European project were equally significant, added McGuckian, as they were dedicated to “teasing out the essential link between faith and culture”. These efforts were “born out of a desire to forge a shared, life-giving culture”. The Bishop reiterated and remembered the late Archbishop’s passion for the social teaching of the Church, and his belief that the most reliable source for the values that could carry such a bold project was the Gospel of Jesus. This was more so in relation to young people, on whom their “vision” ought not to be “imposed”, rather, they ought to be invited and “proposed” a culture “inspired by the truth, justice and mercy”. The Bishop concluded, “how important those medieval principles of ‘proportionality, justice and protection of life’ are in relation to the wars raging before our eyes today, most especially those in Gaza and Ukraine.”