The Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, has criticised people who hurl abuse at those of different language, culture and religion. He was speaking during his annual homily in advance of the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage.
Welcoming all pilgrims to Croagh Patrick, Dr Neary extended a particular welcome to those who had come to make Ireland their new home during a Mass at St Mary's Church in Westport, Co Mayo, on Saturday.
Dr Neary told the congregation that Ireland had traditionally been renowned for its welcome and hospitality, but it had to begin again to welcome all people to new parishes and community projects.
"At many airport arrival bays the words 'céad míle fáilte' were spelled out on a variety of banners. Has that now become simply 'ceád fáilte' or nothing at all?" he asked.
Dr Neary likened the homesickness of those from Kenya, the Niger Delta, Poland or the Carpathian mountains of Romania to that of the Irish who had moved to the Bronx in New York or to the boarding houses of Camden Town in London.
"We are a sad people if we think that the limits of human behaviour have been reached within our own borders or that the only songs are our songs and that the only culture is our culture. That line of thought would have put Patrick back to Britain again and left us to our Celtic pagan ways," he said.
A special welcome was reserved for the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Dr Seán Brady, who became the first Archbishop of Armagh to become a pilgrim and climb Croagh Patrick.