Thousands pay last respects to Cardinal Cahal Daly

St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh

Thousands paid their last respects to Cardinal Cahal Daly, former Catholic Primate of All-Ireland, as his body was taken from St Peter's Cathedral in Belfast to St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, on Monday.

A procession of more than 60 clergy, including priests, bishops and cardinals, accompanied the coffin, as it left St Peter's after the Mass for the Dead. The Cardinal's coffin was carried to the door of St Patrick's Cathedral by GAA captains from Armagh, and into the church by six priests from the archdiocese. Cardinal Daly's remains will lie in state until his funeral on Tuesday.

In a telegram addressed to Cardinal Sean Baptist Brady, current archbishop of Armagh, Pope Benedict said: "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".

Archbishop Vincent Nichols paid this tribute: "Catholics in England Wales will today be mourning the death of Cardinal Cahal Daly. He is warmly remembered as an outstanding leader, a most kind and courteous person, a fine scholar and a man who appreciated all that is best in Irish culture. Most of all he worked tirelessly for peace in Ireland especially in the darkest years of the violence.

"Bishops in England and Wales will remember the occasion on which he came to speak with us and explained with profound insight and humanity the root causes of the sectarian conflicts. His contribution to peace was outstanding.

"Cahal Daly will be much in our prayers. So too will his family, the Catholic Church in Ireland and all who will miss him keenly. May he rest in peace.

The Requiem Mass takes on Tuesday, 5 January at 12.00 noon, followed by burial in Cathedral grounds.

See also: ICN: Cardinal Cahal Daly has died www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=15389