The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Dr Seán Brady, has been elevated to Cardinal by the Vatican.
Dr Brady becomes one of only three senior Irish clergy to hold one of the top positions in Rome. The other serving Irish cardinals are Cardinal Desmond Connell and Cardinal Cathal Daly.
Archbishop Dr Seán Brady
Dr Brady is Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and President of the Irish Bishops' Conference. Pope Benedict made the announcement this morning that he would create 24 new cardinals, including Dr Brady.
In a statement released by the Catholic press office in Dublin, he said he was "deeply honoured and humbled" by the news.
"Today's news is a mark of the affection and esteem of the Holy Father for the whole Church in Ireland.
"It is a daunting privilege to join Cardinal Cahal Daly and Cardinal Desmond Connell in the College of Cardinals. This small country is to have three Cardinals for the first time in its history.
"I ask people for their prayers as I undertake my new responsibilities within the universal Church."
President Mary McAleese congratulated Dr Brady saying he was "a man of great personal integrity, kindness and goodness, a man who leads by personal example.
"It is most fitting that this announcement comes in 2007, a year of great progress in regard to the peace process in North Ireland to which Sean Brady has made a huge contribution.
"This is wonderful news for the Archdiocese of Armagh and, indeed, Ireland, underlining the high esteem in which Sean Brady is held across the world."
The Church of Ireland's Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Reverend Alan Harper congratulated Dr Brady, upon his appointment.
"Earlier today I had the great pleasure of personally congratulating Archbishop Seán Brady on his appointment by Pope Benedict as a Cardinal. It was with great personal joy that I received the news and I recognise that the appointment affirms the wise and sensitive leadership that Archbishop Brady has shown over many years in the Diocese of Armagh."
"As Archbishop, he has demonstrated his great gifts of spiritual leadership and his capacity to reach out the hand of friendship across the communities both in Armagh, and across the island."
Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Finlay extended the congratulations of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to Archbishop Brady, saying
"As a Church we have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Archbishop Brady and have appreciated his many helpful interventions into public debate taking a strong stance on the moral, social and ethical issues that are of concern to all churches."
Bishop Leo O'Reilly said the elevation of Dr Brady to Cardinal "is a signal honour conferred on him by the Holy Father and it is a great honour too for his family, for his native parish of Laragh, and for the diocese of Kilmore where he was born and for which he was ordained a priest in 1964".
"Since he was made Archbishop of Armagh he has led the Irish Church and the Irish Bishops' Conference with great wisdom and courage during what has arguably been the most difficult period that Church has experienced since the Penal Laws.
Bishop O'Reilly added: "But his greatest talents are in his dealings with people. His warmth, his personal interest, and his sincerity enable him to motivate and empower others. He leads by example and his humble and unassuming nature has broken down barriers of prejudice and has opened the way for new initiatives both in the Church and in wider society. His timely interventions on the national stage in recent years have shown him to be a moral leader of great stature and have earned him the respect of all right-thinking people."
Speaking in the Dáil this morning Taoiseach Bertie Ahern offered his congratulations to Dr Brady.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the appointment was a "great honour" for Ireland
"Cardinal Brady has served as Archbishop of Armagh since November 1996, having been coadjutor archbishop since February 1995," he said.
Mary Harney, leader of the Progressive Democrats, said his appointment was "well-deserved."
