VATICAN Radio yesterday marked the news of the resignation with a fulsome tribute which underlined the Primate's "unequivocal" opposition to paramilitary violence.
In a brief summary of the Cardinal's six year reign in Armagh, Vatican Radio the unofficial voice of the Holy See, paid tribute to the balance displayed by Cardinal Daly, who was able to maintain good relations with his Church of Ireland counter part, Archbishop Robin Eames, while at the same time not being afraid to criticise British and unionist politicians.
The radio highlighted Cardinal Daly's appeal to "republican activists" during his installation Mass in Armagh on December 16th, 1991. On that occasion, he said
"I wish to say to them (republican activists) the longer you continue with your campaign of violence, the more ignominious in the end will be the memory you leave behind you and the further away from attainment will be any of your aims and objectives ... You have no sane reason or justification, moral, rational or political, for continuing your campaign of violence."
Senior Curia sources yesterday expressed private tributes to Cardinal Daly while welcoming his successor, the Co-Adjutor Archbishop of Armagh, Archbishop Sean Brady.