Vatican recall of Ireland's nuncio is a 'big deal'
The Vatican has recalled its nuncio to Ireland, a move the Catholic News Service calls "exceptional". A BBC analysis looks at what the move could mean.
Screenshot from the Rome Reports video, 'Vatican recalls Ireland's apostolic nuncio for "consultations"'
- Ireland
- July 26, 2011
The Vatican's recall of its special envoy to Ireland has been described as almost unprecedented over the past century. (Conor Spackman, BBC)
Experts say only anti-religious tumult has previously sparked a similar move, for example the return to Rome of the ambassador to China following that country's forced conversion to communism.
Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza's departure from Dublin may not be a flight from violent persecution but it is a response to the most significant political pressure on the Catholic church since the formation of the state.
Last week, following the publication of a scathing report into the church's handling of child abuse cases, the Irish prime minister (taoiseach) turned on the Vatican and its role in what had happened.
...
The Vatican's response on Monday is, according to Michael Kelly from the Irish Catholic newspaper, "a big deal".
"People just do not speak to the Vatican in that fashion. It is simply not used to people talking about it like that so it will have wanted to be seen to act in a decisive fashion in response," he said.
However, he cautioned against seeing the move as a "diplomatic fit of pique", pointing to remarks made by Vatican press spokesperson Father Ciro Benedettini.
Fr Benedettini said that the Papal Nuncio's recall showed the Vatican wanted "serious and effective collaboration with the (Irish) government".
...
The Irish Times religious affairs correspondent Patsy McGarry believes the situation is more complicated.
He pointed to the latter part of Fr Benedettini's statement which said that the Vatican's move "did not exclude some degree of surprise and disappointment at certain excessive reactions".
Evidence, he said, that the Vatican's position remains a mixture of contrition and determination to speak out when it believes it has legitimate points to make.
...
For Michael Kelly, the latter half of Fr Benedettini's statement is merely a bid for restraint amid calls for more stringent government action against the Vatican.
"Charlie Flanagan, the leader of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, called for the expulsion of the Papal Nuncio and I think Fr Benedettini's remarks have to be seen in the light of that.
"If we remember back to last year when Irish passports were found to have been used by Israeli and Russian secret agents, the Irish government only acted to expel some junior diplomats, despite the seriousness of the situation.
"The expulsion of a diplomat is not a decision taken lightly and I don't think that the gravity of this situation merits it."
FULL STORY
What does the Papal Nuncio's recall mean? (BBC)
In aftermath of Irish report on abuse, Vatican recalls nuncio (Catholic News Service)
PHOTO CREDIT
Vatican recalls Ireland's apostolic nuncio for "consultations" (Rome Reports)
Experts say only anti-religious tumult has previously sparked a similar move, for example the return to Rome of the ambassador to China following that country's forced conversion to communism.
Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza's departure from Dublin may not be a flight from violent persecution but it is a response to the most significant political pressure on the Catholic church since the formation of the state.
Last week, following the publication of a scathing report into the church's handling of child abuse cases, the Irish prime minister (taoiseach) turned on the Vatican and its role in what had happened.
...
The Vatican's response on Monday is, according to Michael Kelly from the Irish Catholic newspaper, "a big deal".
"People just do not speak to the Vatican in that fashion. It is simply not used to people talking about it like that so it will have wanted to be seen to act in a decisive fashion in response," he said.
However, he cautioned against seeing the move as a "diplomatic fit of pique", pointing to remarks made by Vatican press spokesperson Father Ciro Benedettini.
Fr Benedettini said that the Papal Nuncio's recall showed the Vatican wanted "serious and effective collaboration with the (Irish) government".
...
The Irish Times religious affairs correspondent Patsy McGarry believes the situation is more complicated.
He pointed to the latter part of Fr Benedettini's statement which said that the Vatican's move "did not exclude some degree of surprise and disappointment at certain excessive reactions".
Evidence, he said, that the Vatican's position remains a mixture of contrition and determination to speak out when it believes it has legitimate points to make.
...
For Michael Kelly, the latter half of Fr Benedettini's statement is merely a bid for restraint amid calls for more stringent government action against the Vatican.
"Charlie Flanagan, the leader of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, called for the expulsion of the Papal Nuncio and I think Fr Benedettini's remarks have to be seen in the light of that.
"If we remember back to last year when Irish passports were found to have been used by Israeli and Russian secret agents, the Irish government only acted to expel some junior diplomats, despite the seriousness of the situation.
"The expulsion of a diplomat is not a decision taken lightly and I don't think that the gravity of this situation merits it."
FULL STORY
What does the Papal Nuncio's recall mean? (BBC)
In aftermath of Irish report on abuse, Vatican recalls nuncio (Catholic News Service)
PHOTO CREDIT
Vatican recalls Ireland's apostolic nuncio for "consultations" (Rome Reports)
