By Junno Arocho
MAYNOOTH, Ireland, OCT. 4, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Seán Brady, the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland welcomed the election of the new Archbishop of Armagh for the Church of Ireland, a province of the Anglican Communion.
Most Reverend Richard Clarke, Bishop of Meath and Kidare was elected as Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland yesterday. His election will be effective in December when Bishop Clarke will be officially enthroned in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh. Bishop Clark will succeed Archbishop Alan Harper who announced his retirement at the end of September.
Regarding his election, Bishop Clarke expressed his gratitude to his fellow Anglican bishops, pledging to do his best in his new appointment. “I look forward to fresh challenges and joys, along with new friendships and discoveries, in the phase of ministry in the Gospel that now lies ahead, both in the Diocese of Armagh and within the wider fellowship of the Church of Ireland and beyond. Please pray for the Church of Ireland and for me in these weeks ahead as I prepare to take up this new responsibility.’
Cardinal Brady expressed his joy following the news, saying that he looked forward to having Bishop Clark as “a fellow citizen in the Primatial City and to working with him.”
“I have known Bishop Richard Clarke for many years. In recent times we have served together on the Irish Inter-Church Committee. I have always found him to be a person of great wisdom, gentleness and kindness,” he said.
Cardinal Brady wished the newly-elected Anglican prelate blessings in his new responsibilities. “I pray that God will grant him all the grace and wisdom and courage he needs and I assure him of my own cooperation and that of the Catholic community in Armagh in the promotion of greater understanding and the common well-being in these difficult and challenging times,” the cardinal said.
