Tributes have been paid to Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi (89), the former papal nuncio to Ireland, who died on Thursday at his home in Sicily.
Speaking on behalf of the church in Ireland, the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Seán Brady, last night offered "sympathy to his sorrowing family and friends".
The Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell, said of Archbishop Alibrandi: "We remember him for his great love of our country and for the generosity with which he devoted himself to the welfare of the church."
He had "rendered distinguished and devoted service to Ireland in all that concerned our relations with the Holy See," he said.
A sometimes controversial figure, Archbishop Alibrandi served in Ireland for 20 years, during which time he had confrontations with two coalition governments. In the 1970s he incurred the wrath of the Taoiseach, Mr Liam Cosgrave, when the Vatican complained about the treatment of prisoners in Portlaoise Prison.
In the 1980s, he ran foul of Dr Garret FitzGerald whose "constitutional crusade" he opposed vigorously. It is claimed that (unsuccessful) attempts were made by Irish governments to have him recalled to Rome.
The majority of Catholic bishops currently serving in Ireland were appointed during his term as nuncio.
Archbishop Alibrandi was born on January 14th, 1914 at Castiglione in Sicily. He was ordained in November 1936 after attending the pontifical seminary in Rome. He obtained doctorates in divinity, civil and canon law from the Lateran University there.
He entered the Vatican diplomatic service in 1941, serving at the Secretariat of State and in Italy, Turkey, Mexico, Indonesia, Chile and Lebanon before coming to Ireland in 1969.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, the current Papal Nuncio, next Friday in the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Navan Road, Dublin.