Cardinal Desmond Connell said in Dublin yesterday it would be his special priority to work for the full restoration of unity between Christians.
He was preaching at a Mass in the Pro-Cathedral to mark his elevation to the College of Cardinals. It was attended by his relatives and representatives of other Christian churches, senior politicians and gardai.
Dr Connell told the large congregation that Pope John Paul had called on his new cardinals last month to foster unity.
Representatives of other Christian communities in attendance included: Father Ireneu Craciun, Greek Orthodox Church; the Rev Tom Kingston, Methodist Church; Archdeacon Gordon Linney and Dean John Paterson, Church of Ireland; and Pastor Fritz-Gert Mayer, Lutheran Church. None of these received Communion, which a spokesman for Cardinal Connell said was the norm.
The President, Mrs McAleese, was represented by her aide-decamp, Col Brian O'Reilly.
Delivering a sermon in Christ Church Cathedral, Dean Paterson said the Anglican community had an obligation according to its own rules to offer Communion to all.
He said he would be present in the Pro-Cathedral later, as it was his belief that "it remains possible for people to disagree without being disagreeable".
Commenting on the recent controversy about inter-church Communion, Dean Paterson added that Dr Connell was justified when he said no moral pressure must be placed on anyone.
"Sadly we know the ARCIC agreements are still on hold, both by the Vatican and by the Church of Ireland. Both our churches can justly be accused of real negligence if we let such a situation drift on and on," he said.
"We have to stop sitting on the fence. There are too many people who still want to insist that all belief must conform to what we each already have in our own 16th-century tablets of stone".