MICHAEL COURTNEY: Archbishop Michael Courtney, who was this week shot dead aged 58 in Burundi, was a widely travelled and exceptional Vatican diplomat known for his generosity, energy, sense of fun, humility as well as a wholehearted devotion to ideas and people. He was Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi.
A man of great presence and charismatic charm - of which he was apparently unaware - he served in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Senegal, India, Yugoslavia, Cuba, Egypt and for five years as Special Envoy of the Holy See to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
He also served as observer to the European Parliament, the International Commission of the Civil State and as a member of the board of the Council of Europe Development Bank in Paris. Next year he was to have returned as Papal Nuncio to Cuba, where he had developed a firm friendship with President Fidel Castro.
Friends, family, prelates and diplomats speak of a very private, modest, gentle and sensitive man who demurred from the limelight and whose world view was informed by an awareness of suffering and a feeling that something had to be done. Measured, thoughtful and well read, he was always well informed about his brief. Several spoke of an absence of pomp, ceremony or sanctimoniousness in his attitude.
Although Burundi took its toll on his health, he was "not faint-hearted about his commitment", said the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Seán Brady. He spoke of Courtney's courage and keen sense of justice.
He had extended his time there over Christmas because he thought the peace process could be advanced. It seems he was one of the few officials to have talked to the rebel group which shot him, though the FNL has denied responsibility.
Born in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, the seventh in a high-achieving family, his father A.D. (Louis) Courtney was county physician-surgeon from 1923 to 1961 and his mother, Elizabeth, was an artist. His uncle Andy was also a well-known doctor.
Courtney was educated at Nenagh primary school and at Clongowes Wood College, where he was head boy, captain of the rugby team, an eloquent debater and "a star". A lay teacher there once said: "Ireland isn't big enough for that fellow."
He was later a talented "Shannon One" sailor, tennis player, swimmer, snow and water skier, particularly on Lough Derg, where he had a holiday bungalow at Dromineer, his favourite place. Family holidays had been spent there and today he will be buried in Dromineer beside a 17th-century church ruin. He loved the freedom of the lake and was usually there for the August regatta.
Medicine, the family tradition, was an option for the youngest Courtney. Politics seemed to be another. "There was a bit of the politician in him," said his friend, the Coadjutor Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, "though not in the party sense."
But after studying in the arts faculty for one year at UCD (where he was elected to the Students' Representative Council, was a committee member of the L & H and spoke at the Law Society) friends were amazed when he opted for Rome to study for the priesthood. He was regarded then as extremely ambitious, but if so, it was to help people. He felt that since two of his brothers were going to be doctors, the best way to do that was to become a priest.
One school friend recalls "an incredible yarn" Courtney told him while they were out on the lake - apparently to screen his decision. He said he was going to marry a Swiss girl whose extremely rich father was going to give him "a big job" in his firm. "Michael was a prankster and self-mocking joker."
In an interview he said he joined the priesthood for philosophical rather than spiritual reasons. "I thought priesthood was where you lived not for yourself but for other people. I had two options. Either become a successful lawyer, marry and have a family, or to choose a way whereby you do not live for yourself but for other people." Many see his life as having been a sacrifice for others.
His easy ability with men, women and young people are recalled by friends and family. Mary Robinson, the former UN Human Rights Commissioner, said that "he was clearly popular" in the diplomatic milieu at Strasbourg, as well as being well informed and effective and not afraid to hold strong opinions. (Mrs Robinson had first known him as the younger brother of her friend, his sister Mary.) While in Strasbourg he also followed closely the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.
Another sister, Kathleen Vandenberghe, spoke for many of his generosity and compassion. He "gave, gave, gave". His close friends say that wherever he was posted he invited them to visit - though not to Burundi, because he said he could hardly ensure his own safety, let alone theirs. One spoke of watching him work with "the poorest of poor children" in Cairo at an orphanage, run by the order of Mother Teresa, whom he knew.
Mrs Vandenberghe recalled that he was able to talk to Dr Castro in a man-to-man way. Courtney liked to remind Castro they were both educated by the Jesuits. At a time when he was learning Spanish, the Cuban leader invited him to visit. He was told that there would be an interpreter but the then monsignor said no, that would not be necessary. He would understand fine if Dr Castro did not speak into his beard. A message came back that Castro would speak clearly. Courtney spoke Spanish, French, German, Latin, Italian, Greek, Irish, Hindi, Serbo-Croat and had mastered the languages of Burundi. His first priority in a new posting was to learn the language.
He was an early riser and was often late to bed. Archbishop Martin said he was a great man to talk late into the night. Another friend (of 35 years), Bishop John Kirby of Clonfert, said: "Don't I know it," recalling nights when Courtney would think of yet another story or anecdote, postponing sleep.
At the Irish College in Rome he was head boy. After ordination in 1968 for the diocese of Clonfert, he served as a curate in Tynagh, Co Galway, until 1973. He served as chaplain to Tynagh mines and taught at St Raphael's College, Loughrea. Until 1975 he was curate in Woodford. He was also diocesan adviser on religious education, responsible for introducing new insights into catechetics. He returned to Rome in 1976 and studied for a licentiate in canon law and a doctorate in moral theology.
He then entered the Pontifical Diplomatic Academy studying political science, international and diplomatic law. His diplomatic career began in South Africa. In 1987 he was awarded an MA in legal philosophy at NUI, Galway.
His funeral today is in the church of St Mary the Rosary, Nenagh, where his ordination took place in 2000 and his baptism in 1945. His episcopal coat of arms consisted of three main symbols for St Brendan the Navigator, reconciliation and the shamrock.
At the ordination he became Archbishop-elect of Eanach Duin (Annaghdown) and Apostolic Nuncio.
An admirer of Pope John XXIII, he was very loyal to and protective of the Vatican and was close to Pope John Paul. He was critical of media hostility to the church because of a perhaps 1 per cent minority of abusive priests. Although anti-abortion, he felt uncomfortable with the "shock tactics" of the 1980s "pro life" campaign. He worried about the Irish church. His friend, Gerard O'Brien, said he was someone the church badly needed in these times.
Archbishop Martin said there were elements of the trouble-shooter about Courtney, who worked intuitively rather than from a vast worked-out theory. Dr Martin said his next appointment to Cuba was a clear signal that the Vatican recognised his work.
Tributes in Italian media had shown "tremendous respect". Courtney was "very private" in terms of piety. There was "an inner depth that kept his heart up".
In a tribute, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said the archbishop had made a significant contribution to the Burundian peace process. The best tribute would be for the EU under the Irish Presidency to bring a final end to the violence. A senior Department official said that Courtney had an enormous influence on the ground beyond what is normal for a diplomat.
Mrs Vandenberghe said that her brother was "not at all ambitious and never sought preferment" but many feel that Archbishop Courtney had not reached his zenith.
He is survived by his brothers William, Louis, Jim and sisters Kathleen Vandenberghe, Mary Courtney-Spreng and Eileen Frewen, as well as 16 nephews and nieces.
Archbishop Michael Aidan Courtney: born February 5th, 1945; died December 29th, 2003.