A memorial to the late Archbishop Michael Courtney who was shot dead in Burundi was unveiled in Co Galway today.
The 58-year-old Archbishop was working as the Papal Nuncio to Burundi when he was killed after his car was ambushed south of the capital, Bujumbura, on December 19th, 2003, as he returned from a funeral.
At the unveiling in the grounds of St Brendan's Cathedral in Loughrea, Bishop of Clonfert, John Kirby, said the peace accord in place in the African country today is largely the result of the late Archbishop's work.
In his homily, Dr Kirby said the mystery of the assassination of Archbishop Courtney was still unsolved.
"We do not know who killed him or why they chose to do so. Five weeks before his death, Michael told me that he felt that he had good relations with the Government of Burundi and with the last group of rebels who were still not participating in the government and with whom he was negotiating to encourage participation," he said.
Dr Kirby said the Archbishop was due to go as Apostolic Nuncio to Cuba but had requested to remain in Burundi for another month as he felt he was close to achieving a peace accord.
"He was astute in reading a situation and I doubt if he was totally wrong. However, the decision he made in staying on in Burundi ultimately cost him his life," Dr Kirby said.
He said the Archbishop's work in Burundi was both pastoral and diplomatic. As well as celebrating Mass each Sunday, he also worked as a diplomat, talking with the Government and the Rebel forces, trying to bring about reconciliation.
"He had got to know the people and was concerned for their future," Dr Kirby said.
Those who attended today's Mass in St Brendan's Cathedral, which included Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland and Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, heard Archbishop Courtney gave his best both in his work as a diplomat of the Holy See and in his recreational pursuits.
"As Apostolic Nuncio in a severely divided country, he worked assiduously to help to bring peace. Burundi is 70 per cent Catholic and Michael was very eager to use his influence for good.
"I know that he was not enamoured by his appointment to that country, but I also know that once appointed, he gave all his energy to his work for peace. He was reluctant to leave because of his belief that peace was possible," he said.
Others who attended the unveiling of the limestone sculpture by the Co Wicklow stone-carver Tom Glendon, included Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, Minister of State at the Foreign Affairs Department Noel Treacy and MEP Sean O'Neachtain.
The family of the late Archbishop, Dr Louis Courtney from Cavan, his sister Kathleen Vandenberg from Portroe, Nenagh and his sister Mary Spreng-Courtney from Switzerland, also attended.
The Archbishop from Nenagh in Co Tipperary was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Clonfert in 1968 and was appointed as Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi in 2000.
PA