Standing in windy drizzle at the Pro-Cathedral portico, the phrase Testimonium Perhibere Veritati (Bearing Witness to the Truth) unfurled in stained glass above, Dublin's new Coadjutor Archbishop was a relaxed figure.
Accompanied by a clearly happy Cardinal Desmond Connell, both shook hands with well-wishers leaving the morning Mass before answering questions from a media crush. Many of them seemed preoccupied with Dr Martin's dealings with Bono - how he had arranged for the singer to meet Pope John Paul and where were the sunglasses now which Bono had given him
Dr Martin fielded such questions with the same unhesitating ease as he admitted: "Well, I certainly didn't look for the \ job." This was in response to a question about whether he had resisted accepting it. He always accepted and was always happy with whatever job he found himself in, he said.
He expected he would not be coming to Dublin for about two more months. He was accredited to "about 20 international bodies" and arrangements would have to be made for him to be relieved of those postings and replaced.
When he arrived back as coadjutor he would like " a good bit of time to get to know Dublin again". He had been "more than half my life outside the country".
Asked about co-operation as Coadjutor Archbishop with State inquiries, he quipped: "I'm a very co-operative fellow."
His ambition was "to serve the Lord as best I can". A bishop's job was to build up Christian communities and to bring Christ's message in a positive way into people's lives, he said. It was how he saw the current falling away of people being addressed and it was a task for the entire Christian community which must be strong in its own faith.
Asked about his stepping down as Archbishop, Cardinal Connell said it was a matter of "what the Holy Father wishes". Canon law says a bishop must submit a letter of resignation to Rome when he reaches the age of 75. There, it is accepted at the Pope's discretion.
Cardinal Connell, who is cardinal for life, submitted his resignation as Archbishop of Dublin in March 2001.
Under canon law, a coadjutor bishop has a right of succession to the Episcopal See to which he is appointed.
