ADDRESS OF PAUL VI
TO THE NEW AMBASSADOR OF IRELAND
TO THE HOLY SEE*

Monday, 12 December 1966

Mister Ambassador,

It is with sincere pleasure that We accept your Letters of Credence as Ambassador of Ireland to this Holy See. This ceremony revives happy memories: of Our own visits to the Emerald Isle, the hospitality and warmth of its people; of the presence here, on several solemn occasions, of the venerable President of Ireland; and of the admirable devotion and dedication of Your Excellency’s immediate predecessor, Mr Commins.

For fifteen centuries, the Irish people have remained true to the Faith of their fathers. Nor have they preserved that faith jealously for themselves only; but «their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world» (Ps. XVIII. 5). May the Holy Spirit of God continue to raise up in Ireland numerous vocations to the priesthood and the religious life, sufficient to minister unto your own people, and to bring to distant shores the faith, the Sacraments and the grace of Christ.

Through your good offices, We thank His Excellency the President of Ireland and the Government for their active interest and efforts to support and promote the work of this Holy See on behalf of world peace and international brotherhood.

To Your Excellency and your family and collaborators, to the Chief of State, the Irish Government and people, in pledge of rich and abundant divine graces, We affectionately impart Our paternal Apostolic Blessing.

*AAS 59 (1966), p.44-45.

Insegnamenti di Paolo VI, vol. IV, p.629.

L'Osservatore Romano 12-13.12.1966, p.1.

L’Attività della Santa Sede 1966, p. 795-796.