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Irish Times
12-07-2025
- Irish Times
As Europe risks fracturing, the message of St Columbanus needs to be heard again
Speaking during his weekly papal audience on June 11th, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI described St Columbanus as 'the best known Irishman of the early Middle Ages'. But it is in the interest of all ages that his life's work is known of now and is celebrated. Columbanus was the first to coin the phrase 'totius Europae' (of all Europe), which appeared in one of his letters written around 600 AD to Pope Gregory the Great, showing then that it was possible to be Irish, Frankish, Spanish or German while also sharing a common European identity. That a son of Carlow, our Columbanus, would have such vision and foresight more than 1,400 years ago is quite astonishing. And some fruits of this vision are apparent at an exhibition at the National Museum , Dublin, entitled, Words on the Wave: Ireland and St Gallen in Early Medieval Europe. READ MORE This remarkable showcase offers an opportunity to unravel the early medieval journeys of Columbanus, Gall and other monks who travelled to Europe, and to discover what inspired their journey and their mission through manuscripts and other memorabilia of the time. This exhibition is hosted as a collaboration between the National Museum, Switzerland's Stiftsbezirk St Gallen and the Abbey Library of St Gall. I had the pleasure of visiting the Abbey Library in July 2023 as part of the XXVI Columbanus Day when it was hosted in the Swiss city of St Gallen, and having a guided tour by the library's director Dr Cornel Dora. I remember being intrigued by these Irish manuscripts. I wondered at the genius of these saints, their gift with words and how these words have passed through the generations. I recall the glass cases that were home to gospel texts, Latin grammar books – with corrections by monks written in Irish along the margins – and parchments telling of celestial events observed by the monks, for instance a solar eclipse and the appearance of Halley's Comet as far back as the year 989. It was in Saint Gallen during the XXVI Columbanus Day celebrations that the Columban Charter of Partnership was signed by representatives from cultural, social and religious groups across the countries that make up the Columban Way today, a pathway that follows the footsteps of Columbanus and others. These countries include Ireland, Britain, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Italy. The charter is an agreement to develop pilgrim routes, trails and circuits to map out the entire Columban Way and to develop religious and cultural tourism. The annual Columbanus Day celebrations are one such way of giving life to this partnership and promoting the ideals Columbanus expressed in his letters and sermons; ideals that speak to the issues of the environment, climate change and interfaith dialogue. It is a privilege for Carlow, and for the diocese of Kildare & Leighlin, to host this year's celebrations, the XXVI iteration, which concludes today. In a Europe that risks more fracturing at this time, with hostilities on so many fronts and a much more polarised polemic, the message of Columbanus needs to be heard once again. This year's Columbanus celebrations have welcomed pilgrims attending from all over Ireland and throughout Europe. It was uplifting to hear of Ireland's contribution to the birth of Europe from Dáibhí Ó Cróinín of the University of Galway as well as witness the launch of an exhibition supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs themed Ireland and the Birth of was complemented by a symposium on creation, taking inspiration from the first sermon of Columbanus: if you want to know the creator, understand creation. An ecumenical evensong in the Adelaide Memorial Church in Myshall, Co Carlow, in the presence of the relic of St Columbanus, took place in advance of a pilgrim procession with the relic to the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Myshall, appropriately reflecting the collaborative character of Columbanus. This spirit of walking together was also captured in our 9km pilgrimage of the Columban Way, from Columbanus' Cairn on the Nine Stones to the village of Myshall, his reputed place of birth. This wonderful collective undertaking was underscored by former president Mary McAleese , who spoke on Columbanus, the Man from Myshall, followed by a concert in Carlow Cathedral. A Mass in Carlow Cathedral to honour the XXVI Columbanus Day concluded the 2025 European gathering. Pope Leo XIV , in a message for our XXVI Columbanus Day celebrations in Carlow, reminded participants that St Columbanus can 'still teach our world today about how love of God and neighbour requires us to care for creation and to cultivate our souls in the theological virtues, for every aspect of our world reflects in some way the grandeur and goodness of its divine maker'. This is another way of saying that the message of St Columbanus is as relevant in 2025 as it was 14 centuries ago. Is Columbanus as well-known as he should be? We need to reintroduce this European giant of the Middle Ages again to the place where he was born, to the area where he was raised and to the people he left behind. Without Myshall, the birthplace of Columbanus, there would be no Saint Gallen, Luxeuil or Bobbio – key places associated with the missionary – and the totius Europae vision may never have crystallised. Most Rev Denis Nulty is Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Vatican leak undermines Pope Francis and inflames debate over Latin Mass
The debate surrounding the traditional Latin Mass within the Catholic Church has intensified significantly in the early days of Pope Leo XIV 's pontificate. It follows the alleged leak of Vatican documents that appear to contradict the rationale behind his predecessor Pope Francis 's restrictions on the ancient liturgy. These documents reportedly indicate that a majority of Catholic bishops who participated in a 2020 Vatican survey expressed general satisfaction with the Latin Mass. Crucially, they warned that imposing restrictions would "do more harm than good". The texts, originating from the Vatican's doctrine office, were posted online on Tuesday by Vatican reporter Diane Montagna, who has closely followed the Latin Mass dispute. Neither the Vatican spokesman nor the prefect of the doctrine office immediately responded to requests for comment or confirmation of the documents' authenticity on Wednesday. If verified, the leaked information could place considerable pressure on Pope Leo to address the liturgical divisions that became particularly pronounced during Pope Francis's 12-year papacy, especially within the United States. Leo has consistently stated that his primary aim is to foster unity and reconciliation within the Church, and many conservatives and traditionalists view the Latin Mass controversy as an urgent matter requiring resolution. In one of his most controversial acts, Francis in 2021 reversed Pope Benedict XVI 's signature liturgical legacy and restricted access for ordinary Catholics to the old Latin Mass. The ancient liturgy was celebrated around the world before the modernising reforms of the 1960s Second Vatican Council, which allowed Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular, with the priest facing the pews. Francis said he was cracking down on the spread of the old liturgy because Benedict's decision in 2007 to relax restrictions had become a source of division in the church. Francis said at the time that he was responding to 'the wishes expressed' by bishops around the world who had responded to the Vatican survey, as well as the Vatican doctrine office's own opinion. 'The responses reveal a situation that preoccupies and saddens me, and persuades me of the need to intervene,' Francis wrote at the time. Benedict's relaxation had been "exploited to widen the gaps, reinforce the divergences, and encourage disagreements that injure the church, block her path, and expose her to the peril of division', he said. The documents posted online, however, paint a different picture. They suggest that the majority of bishops who responded to the Vatican survey had a generally favourable view of Benedict's reform and warned that suppressing or weakening it would lead traditionalist Catholics to leave the church and join schismatic groups. They warned any changes 'would seriously damage the life of the church, as it would recreate the tensions that the document had helped to resolve'. The documents include a five-page 'overall assessment' of the survey findings, written by the Vatican's doctrine office, as well as a seven-page compilation of quotes from individual bishops or bishops' conferences. The documents contain some negative and neutral opinions, and say some bishops considered Benedict's reform 'inappropriate, disturbing', dangerous and worthy of suppression. But the Vatican's own assessment said the majority of bishops who responded expressed satisfaction. It cited the rise in religious vocations in traditionalist communities and said young Catholics in particular were drawn to the 'sacredness, seriousness and solemnity of the liturgy'. It is not clear what other evidence, anecdotes or documentation informed Francis's decision to reverse Benedict. But from the very start, Francis was frequently critical of traditionalist Catholics, whom he accused of being navel-gazing retrogrades out of touch with the evangelising mission of the church in the 21st century. The new documents have comforted traditionalists who felt attacked and abandoned by Francis. 'The new revelations confirms that Pope Francis restricted the Traditional Mass at the request of only a minority of bishops, and against the advice of the dicastery in charge of the subject,' Joseph Shaw, of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales, said. 'The majority view of the bishops, that restricting the TLM would cause more harm than good, has sadly been proved correct.' In an email, he said Leo should address the issue 'urgently'.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Debate over Latin Mass heats up after apparent leak of Vatican documents that undermine Pope Francis
The debate in the Catholic Church over the celebration of the old Latin Mass is heating up just as Pope Leo XIV's pontificate is getting under way, with the apparent leak of Vatican documents that undermine the stated reason of his predecessor Pope Francis for restricting access to the ancient liturgy. The documents suggest that the majority of Catholic bishops who responded to a 2020 Vatican survey about the Latin Mass had expressed general satisfaction with it, and warned that restricting it would 'do more harm than good.' The texts from the Vatican's doctrine office were posted online Tuesday by a Vatican reporter who has followed the Latin Mass dispute, Diane Montagna. The Vatican spokesman and prefect of the doctrine office didn't immediately respond when asked Wednesday to confirm their authenticity, or comment. If confirmed, the documents could add pressure on Leo to try to pacify the liturgical divisions that spread, especially in the United States, during Francis' 12-year papacy. Since the start of his pontificate, Leo has said his aim is unity and reconciliation in the church, and many conservatives and traditionalists have pointed to the Latin Mass dispute as an area that requires urgent resolution. In one of his most controversial acts, Francis in 2021 reversed Pope Benedict XVI's signature liturgical legacy and restricted access for ordinary Catholics to the old Latin Mass. The ancient liturgy was celebrated around the world before the modernizing reforms of the 1960s Second Vatican Council, which allowed Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular, with the priest facing the pews. Francis said he was cracking down on the spread of the old liturgy because Benedict's decision in 2007 to relax restrictions had become a source of division in the church. Francis said at the time he was responding to 'the wishes expressed' by bishops around the world who had responded to the Vatican survey, as well as the Vatican doctrine office's own opinion. 'The responses reveal a situation that preoccupies and saddens me, and persuades me of the need to intervene,' Francis wrote at the time. Benedict's relaxation had been "exploited to widen the gaps, reinforce the divergences, and encourage disagreements that injure the church, block her path, and expose her to the peril of division,' he said. The documents posted online, however, paint a different picture. They suggest the majority of bishops who responded to the Vatican survey had a generally favorable view of Benedict's reform and warned that suppressing or weakening it would lead traditionalist Catholics to leave the church and join schismatic groups. They warned any changes 'would seriously damage the life of the church, as it would recreate the tensions that the document had helped to resolve.' The documents include a five-page 'overall assessment' of the survey findings, written by the Vatican's doctrine office, as well as a seven-page compilation of quotes from individual bishops or bishops' conferences. The documents contain some negative and neutral opinions, and say some bishops considered Benedict's reform 'inappropriate, disturbing,' dangerous and worthy of suppression. But the Vatican's own assessment said the majority of bishops who responded expressed satisfaction. It cited the rise in religious vocations in traditionalist communities and said young Catholics in particular were drawn to the 'sacredness, seriousness and solemnity of the liturgy.' It's not clear what other evidence, anecdotes or documentation informed Francis' decision to reverse Benedict. But from the very start, Francis was frequently critical of traditionalist Catholics, whom he accused of being navel-gazing retrogrades out of touch with the evangelizing mission of the church in the 21st century. The new documents have comforted traditionalists who felt attacked and abandoned by Francis. 'The new revelations confirms that Pope Francis restricted the Traditional Mass at the request of only a minority of bishops, and against the advice of the dicastery in charge of the subject,' said Joseph Shaw, of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales. 'The majority view of the bishops, that restricting the TLM would cause more harm than good, has sadly been proved correct.' In an email, he said Leo should address the issue 'urgently.' ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
The Independent
18-06-2025
- The Independent
Pope Leo escapes Rome's summer heat to the nearby Castel Gandolfo
Pope Leo XIV will resume the papal tradition of taking a summer break outside Rome, the Vatican announced on Tuesday. Leo will transfer to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, from July 6-20 'for a period of rest' and again for a few days over the Catholic Assumption feast day in August, the Vatican said. Leo visited the papal summer palace last month, raising speculation that he would resume a tradition that goes back centuries. Pope Urban VIII built the palace in 1624 to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summer. It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 55 hectares (136 acres), bigger than Vatican City itself. Pope Francis, who died just after Easter, was known as a workaholic homebody who never took a proper vacation during his 12-year papacy, staying at the Vatican even during the hot summer months. Both of Francis' immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, spent time at Castel Gandolfo, interspersed with visits to the northern Italian Alps. Benedict was especially fond of Castel Gandolfo, closing his papacy out there in 2013. Francis opened the palazzo's gardens to the public in 2014 and later turned part of it into a museum. In what will be a boon to the local community, Leo is resuming the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful gathered in front of Castel Gandolfo on July 13 and July 20, and again on Aug. 15 and Aug. 17, when he returns for a short stay over Italy's most important summer holiday. Public and private audiences at the Vatican will be suspended for most of July, resuming on July 30.
BreakingNews.ie
17-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Pope Leo to resume papal tradition with plan to escape Rome's summer heat
Pope Leo XIV will resume the papal tradition of taking a summer break outside Rome, the Vatican has announced. Leo will head to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, from July 6-20 'for a period of rest' and again for a few days over the Catholic Assumption feast day in August, the Vatican said. Advertisement Leo visited the papal summer palace last month, raising speculation that he would resume a tradition that goes back centuries. Pope Urban VIII built the palace in 1624 to give popes an escape from the sweltering Roman summer. Leo will head to the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo (Andrew Medichini/AP) It was enlarged over succeeding pontificates to its present size of 136 acres, bigger than Vatican City itself. Pope Francis, who died just after Easter, was known as a workaholic homebody who never took a proper holiday during his 12-year papacy, staying at the Vatican even during the hot summer months. Advertisement Both of Francis' immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, spent time at Castel Gandolfo, interspersed with visits to the northern Italian Alps. Benedict was especially fond of Castel Gandolfo, closing his papacy out there in 2013. Partly to offset an economic downturn in the local town due to the papal absence, Francis opened the palazzo's gardens to the public in 2014 and later turned part of it into a museum. In what will be a boon to the local community, Leo is resuming the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful gathered in front of Castel Gandolfo on July 13 and July 20, and again on August 15 and 17, when he returns for a short stay over Italy's most important summer holiday. Advertisement Public and private audiences at the Vatican will be suspended for most of July, resuming on July 30.
