The new Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, has said the church in Ireland must accept new challenges. But the enormous heritage of human and spiritual wealth built by those who had gone before "cannot be forgotten".
Dr Lazzarotto was giving the homily at a liturgical reception in Dublin's Pro-Cathedral last night, marking his recent arrival here. It was attended by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and members of the diplomatic corps. Also present were the Catholic Primate, Dr Sean Brady; the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Connell; the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Neary; and the Archbishop of Cashel, Dr Clifford.
Dr Lazarotto said he had been warned that he "would have a very wet time with lots of rain" here, but he had "been able to see the beauty of the Irish sky with its intense blue colour.
"A few clouds, even dark and dense ones, cannot possibly blot out, hide, or destroy the `sky' of your church, a beauty built down through the centuries on unquestionable faithfulness to Christ and with the patient and generous toil of so many sons and daughters of this church throughout the whole world. This must not happen, you must not allow it to happen."
He "did not choose to come to Ireland, nor did I ask to; I can even say in all sincerity that I never even dared to hope to come one day among you as nuncio. It seemed to me that this appointment required a longer experience and a more mature preparation that I do not think I possess," he said.
But when Pope John Paul told him he was coming to Ireland, "from the first moment I felt deeply that, through this call of the successor of Peter, it was the Lord himself who was guiding my steps towards this land, towards this church," he said.
In coming to Ireland he had "no desire or ambition other than that of bearing witness, by my presence, to the solicitude, the affection, the appreciation and gratitude that the Holy Father holds for this church and for this country. He himself confirmed this to me some days ago in the course of the audience which he granted me before my departure from Rome," he said.
He also paid tribute to his predecessor, Dr Luciano Storero, who died in Dublin last year.
