Students who gave up the seminary 50 years ago recall a suffocating atmosphere that infantilised seminarians, but also some rare acts of kindness and enlightenment

Union’s ‘vision for Europe’s peoples’ is its saving grace, Noel Treanor says

No question of doctrine changing but pastoral response to new realities might

Meeting of mainly women in Co Clare heard call for all to be accommodated

Preacher first came to prominence in a religious context via a row

From firebrand preacher and unionist leader to powersharing Northern Ireland first minister

‘They breed like rabbits and multiply like vermin’ the late DUP leader said of Catholics

Healing for Smyth abuse victims cannot begin until then, it is claimed

Cardinal Seán Brady and former archbishop of Dublin Desmond Connell among concelebrants

Tánaiste to bring name of new ambassador to Holy See to cabinet in coming days

Meeting with player in ongoing political crisis a throwback to ’cold war’ days of John Paul II

30 metre sculpture in northern town of Cevo collapsed

Over 2,000 students from 61 schools to sing in four languages at series of Dublin concerts

Pope selected ahead of Edward Snowden and gay-rights activist Edith Windsor

Opinion: Theirs has been ‘a poor church for the poor’

John XXIII and John Paul II represent both left and right factions in church

Pontiff would like to see ‘real, effective change’

Pope John XXIII who called the Second Vatican Council will also be made a saint

JFK’s contribution to Irish political concerns was minimal. On the national question, the true heroes were Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton