British wanted to put pressure on Vatican over new archbishop of Armagh

The British government’s efforts to influence the Vatican’s choice of a new archbishop of Armagh following the sudden death of Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich in May 1990 features in previously confidential files declassified on Friday in Belfast by the Public Record Office.

In a memo to Northern Ireland minister of state Dr Brian Mawhinney and officials, dated June 5th, 1990, Brian Blackwell, a senior Northern Ireland Office (NIO) official, raised the issue of approaching the Holy See on the matter.

He recalled a meeting on May 9th, 1990, attended by Northern secretary Peter Brooke, Sir John Chilcot (head of the NIO) and Sir Ken Bloomfield (head of the Northern Ireland civil service) at which the NIO was asked to advise on “the modalities of transmitting an appropriate message to the Vatican”. Their aim was “to register our interest in an element of consultation over the appointment of a successor to Cardinal O Fiaich”.

Coincidentally, the British ambassador to the Holy See was scheduled to meet Archbishop Emmanuel Gerada, the apostolic nuncio to Ireland, in Rome on May 21st,1990. Blackwell informed officials: ‘During that discussion it seemed the archbishop, without any prompting from the ambassador, launched straight into the question of the search for a new cardinal.”

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Three names

The nuncio assured the ambassador “that the three names ... he was required to put forward [for nomination as all-Ireland Primate] would all be people he knew were well regarded by us”. To the ambassador’s surprise, Gerada mentioned the names of Bishop Edward Daly and Bishop Cahal Daly in this context.

Archbishop Gerada had indicated, however, that a direct approach to the secretariat of state at the Vatican “might not be wise at this juncture; this was delicate ground and the Holy See was jealous of its preserve”.

However, Blackwell noted, the ambassador, “while agreeing that the matter is rather delicate...sees no difficulty in raising the issue in Rome – for instance, when he meets Archbishop Sodano [the incoming Vatican secretary of state] on other business. As he pointed out, the Vatican is well used to frank speaking in private.”

Cordial letter

Meanwhile, Northern secretary Peter Brooke had received a cordial letter from Bishop Cahal Daly of Down and Connor seeking to arrange a call from Gerada on him [Brooke] in June 1990.

The NIO recommended that Brooke should respond positively and personally to the bishop’s request “in view of the personal warmth” of Bishop Daly’s letter.

In his reply, dated June 5th, 1990, Brooke thanked Daly for his “good wishes and prayers, efforts to promote political development”, and said he looked forward to meeting Archbishop Gerada.

Blackwell felt that the nuncio he would undoubtedly raise the issue of successor to Cardinal O Fiaich in his discussions with Brooke.

They were fortunate, said Blackwell , that the present nuncio to Ireland took a keen interest in Northern affairs, and “obviously takes on board the views of the more moderate leaders of the Catholic community”.