Archbishop Eamon Martin.
Cardinal Sean Brady has offered his resignation to Pope Francis, paving the way for Derry cleric Eamon Martin to become the leader of Ireland’s Catholics.
All cardinals are obliged to offer their resignations on reaching the age of 75 with the Pope having the final say.
However, it is anticipated Pope Francis will accept Dr Brady’s resignation offer which would see Archbishop Martin, who was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh in January last year, become Primate of All Ireland possibly as soon as next month.
In a statement issued today, Dr Brady, who held the post for 18 years, said he had tendered his resignation last month in accordance with Canon Law.
He added: “I did so in anticipation of my 75th birthday which I will celebrate tomorrow.
“On 18 January 2013 Pope Benedict XVI acceded to my request for episcopal support and Archbishop Eamon Martin was appointed as Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh.
“This means that as soon as Pope Francis accepts my resignation, Archbishop Eamon will become Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.”
Dr Martin (52) is the son of John and Catherine Martin, from Balmoral Avenue, off Racecourse Road, in Derry.
Following his primary school education in St Patrick’s, Pennyburn, he attended St Columb’s College and eventually completed the training for the priesthood in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, obtaining BSc (Hons) in Mathematical Science from NUI Maynooth; BD (Hons) in Theology.
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Derry on 28 June 1987.
After his ordination he served as a curate in St Eugene’s for two years before continuing his studies at Queen’s University in Belfast.
Cardinal Sean Brady.
He joined the teaching staff at St Columb’s College in 1990, leaving eight years later to study at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge from where he obtained a MPhil in school development.
He was appointed president (principal) of St Columb’s College in 1999 ahead of being appointed Secretary-General of the Irish Episcopal Conference.
In 2010, he became Vicar General of the Diocese of Derry and in November 2011, following the resignation of Bishop of Derry Séamus Hegarty, he was elected as diocesan administrator.
He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh in January last year.
At the time, he addressed the abuse scandals exposed within the Catholic Church in Ireland over the last two decades.
He said: “One of the greatest challenges facing our Church is to acknowledge, live with, and learn from the past, including the terrible trauma caused by abuse.”
Retired Bishop of Derry Edward Daly said he was seen as “a clean pair of hands.”
“He does not carry any baggage from the past with him,” Dr Daly said.
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