Pope Leo XIV gave Dublin a birthday present for the bicentenary of St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral that could not be matched. The prolonged and joyful applause when I had the privilege of announcing that Pope Leo had consented to my request and approved by decree that St Mary’s be designated as the Cathedral Church of our Archdiocese was eloquent testimony to what this means for our community of faith.
On the feast of St Laurence O’Toole, whose 800th anniversary we celebrate this year, Pope Leo’s decision was not only a mark of esteem for the service provided by St Mary’s over the past 200 years, but an endorsement of the spirit in which this change was proposed: to be a sign of hope and a spur to the renewal of our commitment to the mission which God has entrusted to His Church in Dublin.
St Mary’s is a special place because here the people of the Archdiocese can encounter God, because it is above all a place of prayer and so a place of peace for all who cross its threshold. It is a place where the presence and care of the Good Shepherd is proclaimed and where His flock is nourished in liturgy celebrated with care and dignity. All of this has, of course, been the service provided by St Mary’s over the years, so what is the significance of the changed status?
I identified that both St Mary’s and St Andrew’s, Westland Row, have a key role to play in our renewed mission”
My request to the Holy Father arose in the context of the profound pastoral renewal in Dublin we are progressing under the title, ‘Building Hope’. Through a synodal process of engagement and prayerful discernment, we have been identifying how we can reach out to and accompany the people of Dublin at a time of dramatic social, economic and demographic change. It seemed to me that in this context it would be appropriate to have a cathedral, both in name and in fact, demonstrating that there is nothing provisional about the commitment of the Church in Dublin to its mission, nor incomplete about its structures. I identified that both St Mary’s and St Andrew’s, Westland Row, have a key role to play in our renewed mission, and so I initiated an analysis of their respective suitability for designation as a cathedral. The outcome of this process was the idea of a ‘Twin Pillar Strategy’, recognising and building upon their complementary strengths and capacities. This demonstrated that designation of a cathedral was not a matter of status but rather of mobilisation for mission.
Photo: John McElroy.
This will see both pillars serve as points of reference for celebration of the liturgical, cultural and artistic traditions of the Church”
Last year, on the feast of St Kevin, I announced that, following consultation and prayerful discernment, I had requested the Holy Father to designate St Mary’s as the Cathedral Church on the Archdiocese of Dublin, and that I was initiating the process for recognition of the special tradition and role of St Andrew’s in the life of the Archdiocese by its designation as a minor Basilica. The pastoral strategy at the heart of the city, embracing both St Mary’s and St Andrew’s, is being overseen by a group chaired by Bishop Paul Dempsey. This will see both pillars serve as points of reference for celebration of the liturgical, cultural and artistic traditions of the Church and as places in which to exercise her ministry of welcome, consolation and care.
Solidarity
Our commitment to this Strategy, involving both pillar churches, is an act of faith and solidarity with the communities in the centre of the city. A vibrant city needs a living heart, with worthy spaces where people can gather to celebrate their faith, no less than other dimensions of our lives together. In a tangible way, we will be investing in significant renewal and refurbishment of the fabric of St Mary’s, for which planning permission has been received, as well as necessary works in Westland Row.
The designation of St Mary’s as our Cathedral has a prophetic value through its location in the part of the city which bears most obviously the marks of disadvantage. It is a tangible expression of our closeness to our sisters and brothers who bear a disproportionate share of the burden of social transformation. The open doors of the Cathedral will offer a particular welcome to those seeking sanctuary and respite from their cares and struggles.
My prayer for all the people of the inner-city faith communities is that God may find an open door in St Mary’s Cathedral, a sacred space where He can take up His abode in all, a silent space of welcome where all who come to you may find always the open door of acceptance and hospitality (See Pope Francis, General Audiences, September 9, 2025 and October 23, 2023).
The gift of a Cathedral by Pope Leo to our capital city, and archdiocese, is an affirmation of our mission and gives us encouragement and renewed hope. May Our Blessed Mother, to whom our Cathedral is dedicated, watch over and sustain us as we carry forward the mission of Her beloved Son.
Commons / Antony-22.
Archbishop Dermot Farrell is Archbishop of Dublin
