A ceremony to mark the arrival of Dr Diarmuid Martin as the new Coadjutor Archbishop of Dublin, and nominated successor to Cardinal Desmond Connell will take place later today.
This means that upon Cardinal Connell's retirement, Dr Martin will become Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. This is the second-most important post in the Irish Church.
At a press conference yesterday Dr Martin suggested that Irish Catholics can look forward to less authoritarian leadership style from the church.
He said the Church required more energy to deal with sexual abuse of children by priests, adding that the Vatican's reaction to the issue so far had been inadequate.
There will be a Liturgy of Welcome for him at Dublin's Pro-Cathedral this afternoon.
Among the attendance will be Cardinal Desmond Connell, Cardinal Cahal Daly, Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, and Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras. The President, Mrs McAleese, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Royston Brady, will also attend, as will members of the Oireachtas, Dublin's local authorities, and representatives of the Reformed churches.