Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 1978

Vol. 308 No. 1

Deaths of Pontiffs: Expressions of Sympathy.

The Taoiseach

It is fitting that we pay tribute to the memory of His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, and His Holiness, Pope John Paul I. Although the ministry of each differed greatly in duration each had a significant impact on the world.

Pope Paul VI will be remembered as a reconciler and peacemaker. During his ministry the Christian Churches of East and West drew appreciably closer. Their leaders, in meeting publicly and in establishing close bonds of friendship after centuries of division have given example to a strife-torn world. Pope Paul VI concerned himself not only with ecclesiastical matters but also with world problems. In his first year as Pope he called for a nuclear test-ban treaty. From Jerusalem in 1964 he appealed to world leaders for peace. In 1965 he travelled to the United Nations and called on mankind to turn its back on war. It was also his heartfelt wish to see an end to strife on this island. He committed the Catholic Church to achieving just and equitable social and economic conditions for all men. His encyclical Populorum Progressio urged that resources be shared between the richer and poorer nations and that human rights and social justice be promoted on a world-wide scale.

Pope John Paul I, from his first appearance, endeared himself to all with his good humour and informality. His sudden death has brought a premature end to a pontificate which promised so much and has saddened the world.

Ba chailliúnt mhór iad—don Eaglais agus don domhan uile—básanna an Phápa Póil agus a chomharba, Eoin Pól, nár mhair ach seal gairid i mbun a dhualgais throm. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha dilse.

Dr. FitzGerald

I should like to echo and endorse what the Taoiseach has said about the two Pontiffs who died so tragically in such close succession.

The work of Pope Paul VI in the areas the Taoiseach has mentioned has had quite profound effects. Indeed outside the ranks of the Roman Catholic Church and christians much of what he sought to achieve in regard to awakening the consciousnes of people to the disparities in living standards throughout the world and the need for action in that respect has borne fruit in new attitudes in countries which are not normally directly affected by the influence of the Leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The death of Pope John Paul I, coming so quickly afterwards, has been certainly a great blow to the Church and to the world, I believe, in view of the way in which the church and the people of the world responded even in that short space to his personality.

Mr. Cluskey

On behalf of the Labour Party I would like to be associated with the Taoiseach's remarks regarding the demise of the two Pontiffs. It is unusual that the Dáil would meet after the summer recess with one of its first duties being to record its condolence on the death of two Popes.

Pope Paul VI, apart from his work which the Taoiseach mentioned, in going outside the Vatican—which was a departure from the precedent there for many years—going out into the world, attending the United Nations, visiting the countries of the Third World brought the true message of christianity regarding equality and social justice for all to the peoples of the world. He also brought to a conclusion the work initiated by his predecessor Pope John XXIII on the work of Vatican II.

The sudden death of Pope John Paul I such a short time after he had attained that very high office was a tremendous shock to the whole world, not alone the christian world, a man who in such a short period of time had created such a favourable impression amongst the ordinary people of the world for his warmth, humanity and his lack of formality. There was also his record before becoming Pope, throughout his priestly life, of his genuine concern for the poor and underprivileged of the world and his deep concern for those of the Third World. His passing before what could reasonably be said to be a period of great promise for the Roman Catholic Church was indeed a very sad one.

I should like to take this opportunity also, and it is appropriate, to thank the Taoiseach not only for including me in his official party at the funeral of Pope Paul VI but for his personal courtesy during that period.

Dr. FitzGerald

Hear, hear.

Mr. Blaney

On a personal note and on behalf of the people I represent I should like to be associated with the sentiments expressed by the Taoiseach, the Leader of the Fine Gael Party and with what the Leader of the Labour Party has said, with the exception of his final remarks.

Members rose in their places.