THE retirement of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, Cardinal Seán Brady, was announced on Monday. He will be succeeded as Primate by his co-adjutor archbishop, Dr Eamon Martin (News, 25 January 2013).

Cardinal Brady (above), who was a prominent figure during the child-abuse scandals affecting the RC Church in Ireland in recent years, tendered his resignation to Pope Francis when he reached the age of 75, in accordance with Canon Law.

Warm tributes were paid to the Cardinal by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Richard Clarke, and also by the Revd Dr Donald Watts, who co-chairs the Irish Inter Church Meeting and is a former Clerk to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

Dr Clarke said: "On behalf of the people of the Church of Ireland, I ask God's blessing and every happiness for Cardinal Seán Brady in his forthcoming retirement. He has been a good friend to successive Archbishops of Armagh, and to the wider Church of Ireland, throughout his archiepiscopate, and we are grateful to him for this unaffected generosity of spirit.

"And, on a personal note, I wish to thank Seán for real kindness and warm friendship over many years. We all hope that he will enjoy both true fulfilment and good health in the years ahead.

"It is a pleasure at this juncture to pray the blessing of God also for Archbishop Eamon Martin, as he takes up new and demanding responsibilities as Archbishop of Armagh. Since he moved to Armagh - shortly after my own arrival - he and I have come to know each other well, and I very much look forward to working collaboratively with Eamon as he now embarks on this new phase in his ministry, and in the life of the Roman Catholic Church here in Ireland."