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ALONG WITH HIS other holy duties, newly-elected Pope Francis will now take on the role of Bishop of Kilfenora in Co Clare, TheJournal.ie can reveal.
A source within the parish has confirmed that the Pope is now nominally the Bishop of the area, under a Papal Dictate that goes back as far as 1883.
The Bishop of Kilfenora was a separate episcopal title until 1750 when the Catholic church united it with Kilmacduagh, Co Galway and both dioceses were later united with the diocese of Galway.
This means there are three separate dioceses that are covered by the Bishop of Galway in both Connacht and Munster. However the rules of the church dictate that no bishop can be split between two different provinces. The source said that the rule was brought in to “prevent bishops from collecting dues from more than one province without doing the work”.
It is unlikely that this will ever change as canon law would have to be amended to allow for it and the source said Kilfenora is now the “only one of these parishes that still exists”.
“It’s a unique thing that the parish has and they pride themselves on it because it gives them that little bit of distinction from other parishes”, the source said.
The Bishop of Kilfenora is not expected to make frequent visits to his parish as the Bishop of Galway handles all of the clerical and administrative duties.
“For all practical purposes it means absolutely nothing because the bishop [of Galway] does everything and I don’t think it’s going to be high up on Pope Francis’ list”, the source added.
[h/t to Pat McNamara]
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So will he be conducting the local confirmation ?
Who cares
I wouldn’t be particularly proud of that: some home truths about the new man: in Argentina they are less than happy about the appointment, read why, make up your own mind, question everything. A great proverb said, don’t just teach someone to read, teach them to question everything they read…. No truer words..
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/03/pope-francis-past-enough-damn-him
Very interesting read thanks David
Does this mean we can claim him as Irish, can he play for Ireland so?
Oh, the Argentinians know about football alright…and fashion
He’d never get a look in so long as maestro Paul Green is on the scene
God, d’you remember that fella that was so good at fashion they had to shoot him?
My single favourite Ted quote ever!
No F’ing way..remember the milk float episode of father ted? Where was it shot…downtown Kilfenora!
The Journal “can reveal”. Common knowledge and known for years.
I didn’t know.
5 min of my life I will never get back!
It took you 5 minutes to read that?? What’s wrong with you?
It took you 5 minutes to read that? Who’s a slow boy!
Is he related to Brian Boru ??
Haha :)
This guy is gona be great to have in the annual over 75′s 5a side match!!!
That lung he has should do the trick!!
I don’t get it…where’s the link?
bishops cant be in charge of more then one parish at a time. if this happens, the title falls back to the pope who can assign a new bishop to look after it, however, Kilfenora is probably such a small parish that its not worth the expense of having its own Bishop or bother changing cannon law for a small village/town so therefore they might as well just have bishop of Galway act as caretaker as the Pope couldn’t be arsed…*ahemm*…has better thinks to do.
I think thats the jist
Thanks Sean Bambi Keating. You explained that a lot more clearly than the writer, who seemed to omit the key point of her article.
Clear, but wrong. Swap ‘parish’ for ‘province’ and bambi’s right.
I thought it was diocese rather than province?
Thank you Sean, not quite sure where the red thumbs came from but that makes a lot more sense now!
Still, not a bad person to call your local bishop by default! :D
Jayus lads bit harsh on the writer. It’s a bit of light hearted stuff, don’t like, don’t read. Simples.
What does annoy me is that Irish thing to cling on to someone famous or link it to Ireland. Know one knew or gave a flying fock about this bloke yesterday.
You’re welcome.
Thank god for that….
who wastes their time writing this rubbish. even worse i just wasted part of my life reading it. WHO CARES……….
And yet you took the time to comment…
You must. The journal has been great these last few days watching you all get so wound up.
@ John Flavin – “WHO CARES”? Well I’d say a few Catholics would care about it, he is there new “leader” after all.
Oh Terry. You are right. Twas hilarous watching the anti Catholics bursting with rage wasnt it. The catholics amongst us have another day in the sun next week when Pope Francis is officially installed.. Well i suppose every day is sunny when u are Catholic…. God bless
No-one cares.
I’m just commenting here to remind these Catholics about their moral duty to denounce child abuse, their abusers and those who covered up crimes.
@John – Every news outlet on the planet has little news bites / titbits.
Chill out man.
Does that mean he’s coming to visit?
Sure why not, the previous pope never managed despite saying he would.
It must have been a bitter pill when he visited a traditionally protestant country like Britain instead of it’s good ol’ catholic neighbour Ireland.
The new Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) from Argentina his Father is from Italy and his Mother is Argentinian. He has a big Mayo connection which was discovered. The Admiral William Brown was born in Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland on 22nd June 1777. He is a national hero in Argentina. As he was an admiral in the army and he helped Argentina in many wars. His line of descendants goes right down to the new Pope, Francis!
What utter rubbish! His parents are Italian and 2nd generation Italian, there’s no connection to Admiral William Brown other than he is also from Argentina (even if Brown was an Irish immigrant from Mayo) also you only get Admirals in the Navy, Brown is the founding father of the Argentine Navy and as such a national hero in Argentina.
I think you’re grasping at straws if your trying to claim the new pope for Mayo!
Give ‘im a good aul pint of the black stuff on his visit here or send him one via Noonan
I AM SURE HIS GRANDFATHER PLAYED IN THE KILFENORA CEILE BAND.
Poor Michelle getting a hard time over this article. Leave her alone she’s lovely look at that smile.
Couldn’t care less if he was Bishop of legoland he’s still complicit in the cover up of systematic abuse and rape of children.
That is why Ratzinger walked. In-tray flooded with altar boy lawsuits from Clare. Hot potato now. The cowardly crims.
Serve the pope today, tomorrow you ay be dead.
Smite the heretic?
The Fear factor again – yes we may be dead – but waht good will an overdressed guy living in paalce do us .
apparently he mat try to reform Vatican – will he stop the money landering , and sell some of the resuresand vast properties – and ” give to the Poor ”- —who was it that said that .
and a jesuit to boot – gods Getapo
@David, I prefer burn the blasphemer.
He anandoned the Bishop’s Palace in Buenos Aires to live in a simple flat, he cooked for himself and kissed the feet of Aids sufferers and the poor.
Jim, I don’t know where to start with your comment. It smacks of slackness and is the sloppiest piece of writing I’ve seen today and I teach junior infants!
Makes you wonder why…… Maybe so he is not noticed getting up to no good!
C’mon the f**ckin’ Banner boy!
This is not exactly correct. It is not just the parish of Kilfenora. It is in fact a larger area stretching from Lahinch to Gort. The Diocese is called Kilfenora and Kilmacduagh. The bishop of Galway is the apostolic administrator but the pope himself is the bishop.
Why was the ceili banned down there. ?Hopefully new popeye can sort it.
I suppose we can expect to see him at various funerals in the area then?
Pope Francis is also the Parish Priest of Liscannor, Co Clare.
I bet there not eating hprse over in the vatican.
Are yiz making this up?!!
Congratulations Kilfenora! Hope the Pope is always proud of you. God bless.
Haha I was telling people this yesterday and nobody believed me. The pope has been pp of kilfenora for years.
You maybe missing it .Is there an opportunity to sell the bishopric of kilfenora and generate money for the county? sorry i’m late i live in Seattle.
And Liscannor too!
Congratulations George Bluth
have your say