Ireland to reopen Vatican embassy

News that the Irish embassy in the Vatican is to be reopened, more than two years after it was closed has been welcomed by Church leaders and politicians.

The Irish government cited financial cost as the reason for the closure in late 2011, but many commentators viewed the move as a snub to the Catholic Church. The closure followed an unprecedented attack by the Irish prime minister Enda Kenny on Vatican authorities in the wake of the publication of the Cloyne report on clerical child sex abuse allegations in County Cork.

Mr Kenny said the report had exposed, "an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic". The charge was rejected by the Vatican, which recalled its Papal Nuncio from Dublin for a time.

In a statement, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the reopened Vatican office would be a "scaled-back, one-person embassy with a focus on international development."

"This will enable Ireland to engage directly with the leadership of Pope Francis on the issues of poverty eradication, hunger and human rights," the DFA said.

Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, commented: "I am very pleased by the announcement of the Irish Government regarding the reopening of a residential Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See, and the appointment of a resident Ambassador. It is an excellent decision for the people of Ireland and will be beneficial to Ireland in making its distinctive and important contribution to international relations. We are all grateful to those who worked so hard to make this day possible."

Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said: "I welcome the decision by the Government today to re-open Ireland's embassy to the Holy See. Whilst the embassy has been closed since November 2011, it is important to recognise that diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Holy See were in existence and productive during this time. I wish to pay particular tribute for his work in this regard to Ireland's non-resident Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr David Cooney.

"Today's decision also reflects positively on the process of Church State Structured Dialogue. The question of the re-opening of the embassy to the Holy See was one of the issues raised by our delegation at the meeting of that dialogue in Government Buildings last January.

"Based on our shared commitment to justice, peace, eradication of poverty, international development, and the protection of the environment, I now look forward to on-going and fruitful co-operation between Ireland and the Holy See for the common good."

Ireland had a resident ambassador to the Holy See since diplomatic relations were established and envoys were exchanged in 1929. This was a significant international decision for the newly-established Irish Free State. This close connection highlighted both the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries, and the important role played by the Holy See in international relations.