Cardinal Desmond Connell – ‘distinguished and caring’

“He was a just, holy, prayerful man, aware of his own failings.”

Among the tributes paid as the news of Cardinal Desmond Connell’s death came on February 21, Msgr Dan O’Connor’s was one steeped in a long-time personal knowledge of the prelate and the man who was his friend for so many years.

Having known Desmond Connell since 1969, Fr Dan also served as the later Archbishop of Dublin’s education secretary, and celebrated the last Sunday Mass for the ailing prelate on Sunday, February 19.

Beyond the respectful tributes for the archbishop and cardinal emerging over the course of the day, Fr O’Connor led in recalling the man, who “loved music, history, gardening, dogs. He loved his pipe”.

“He was a very proud Dublin northsider, having been born in Phibsborough,” he added, “and always kept contact with lots of his old neighbours.”

Indeed, Fr O’Connor offered a picture of an archbishop who “was always caring of the people and priests of the diocese, and [who] sent a Christmas card to every one of his priests every year, including this last Christmas”.

He also displayed a particular care for the young in his keen interest in the Dublin archdiocese’s provision for the education of children with special needs.

Not seeking to avoid the clerical abuse scandals which became so dominant a feature of Cardinal Connell’s time as Archbishop of Dublin, Fr O’Connor said “the child abuse scandals, the hurt that people experienced really affected him. He was hurt at the abuse of innocent children by priests. That shocked him.”

Cardinal Connell retired from the archdiocese in 2004.

“When he retired, the highlight of his year was travelling to Lourdes as part of the Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage,” Fr O’Connor recalled of the prelate’s later life. “He loved meeting everyone on the pilgrimage, especially the young people, for whom – fascinated with his pipe smoking – he became something of a ‘grandfather figure’.

“He was also a close friend of both St John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.”

Connections

It was Pope John Paul who elevated Archbishop Connell to cardinal in 2001.

Such lofty connections are balanced with another revelation from Fr O’Connor, that during his periods in hospital in later life, Cardinal Connell insisted on being registered simply as ‘Fr Connell’.

Among others paying tribute to Cardinal Connell this week was Taoiseach Enda Kenny who said: “Cardinal Connell had a long and distinguished academic career and while his time as archbishop was controversial, those who knew him recognised his desire for holiness and his gentleness and humility of character.”

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin said “Dr Connell was a strong advocate for social justice and highlighted the difficulties facing communities in inner-city Dublin throughout his ministry”.

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All-Ireland, expressed his sorrow and described Cardinal Connell as “a gentle and holy priest who was dedicated to his priestly and episcopal calling”.

Abuse survivor Marie Collins, who met on numerous occasions with Cardinal Connell during the period covered by the Murphy report said: “He was a man of his time, we had our differences, I hope he rests in peace. My condolences to his family.”

Rev. Damian Mc Neice, Master of Ceremonies in the Dublin archdiocese said in a personal reflection on the cardinal’s life: “His brother priests in Dublin are aware of his pastoral kindness to many and of his deep integrity, even to the point of scrupulousness, a trait and sensitivity that could be misunderstood and misconstrued.”

Cardinal Desmond Connell died on February 21, the 16th anniversary of his creation as a cardinal.

Biography

• Born in Dublin in 1926, Desmond Connell was educated at Belvedere College before beginning his studies for the priesthood in Clonliffe. Earning his BA in UCD in 1946, and an MA the following year, he continued his studies in Maynooth and was ordained in 1951 by Dublin’s then Archbishop John Charles McQuaid.
• In 1953 he was awarded a PhD in Philosophy from Belgium’s Pontifical University of Leuven.
• He taught in UCD, where he became Professor of General Metaphysics in 1972 and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Sociology in 1983. A lifelong academic, he was a surprise appointment when picked to succeed Dr Kevin McNamara as Archbishop of Dublin in 1988, and struggled with the abuse crisis that came to light during his term in office.
• In 2001 he was – along with Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, now Pope Francis – one of 38 prelates created cardinal by St John Paul II.
• He stepped down from the Congregations for Clergy and for the Doctrine of the Faith that April, and submitted his resignation as archbishop that year. In April 2004, less than a year after the appointment of Dr Diarmuid Martin as his co-adjutor bishop, his resignation was accepted.
• Still a cardinal with voting rights until 2006, he took part in the 2005 conclave that chose Pope Benedict XVI.