Ireland to close embassy to Holy See, but diplomatic relations continue
(November 04, 2011) Ireland announced on Thursday it was closing its embassies to
the Vatican and two other nations, but denied that its deteriorating relations with
the Catholic Church over clerical sex abuse scandals played a role in its choice of
cuts. Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore said Ireland was under grave financial pressure
as it tries to slash spending in line with its international bailout last year. Vatican
spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi issued a statement late Thursday, downplaying
the Irish government's decision saying “every state that has diplomatic relations
with the Holy See is free to decide ... whether to have an ambassador to the Holy
See who is resident in Rome or resident in another country.” The Irish move does
not result in rupture of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Ireland, but
only the absence of a resident Irish ambassador in Rome. Gilmore said it was with
"the greatest regret and reluctance" that Ireland had decided to close the Vatican
embassy as well as Ireland's diplomatic missions in Iran and East Timor. He noted
that while the Embassy to the Holy See is one of Ireland's oldest diplomatic missions,
it brings no economic return. He said, "The government believes that Ireland's interests
with the Holy See can be sufficiently represented by a non-resident ambassador."
Gilmore insisted that tensions over clerical sexual abuse had "no bearing" on the
decision and that "Vatican relations will continue and be valued." Cardinal Sean
Brady, president of the Irish bishops' conference however expressed “profound disappointment”
at his government’s decision saying it "seems to show little regard for the important
role played by the Holy See in international relations and of the historic ties between
the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries."