VATICAN sources have confirmed that the resignation of the Archbishop of Armagh, Cardinal Cahal Daly, is, imminent. Dr Daly, who will he 79 next month, has already served as Cardinal for four years longer than normally allowed by the Catholic Church's 1967 apostolic constitution,
Regmini Sanctae Ecclesiae, which introduced compulsory retirement from all church posts, barring that of Pope, at 75.
Dr Daly has served as Cardinal for nearly six years, since his installation in December, 1990, following the death in May of that year of his predecessor, Cardinal Tomas O Fiach.
Given the delicate task of finding suitable appointees for senior church positions, Pope John Paul II has often rejected resignations prompted by the age ruling, asking the incumbent to remain at his post for an unspecified period. Perhaps the most celebrated such extension of contract was afforded to Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, former Secretary of State, who remained at his post for over a year after his 75th birthday, eventually resigning in December, 1990.
It is some indication of the Pope's high esteem for Dr Daly that he has been left at his post for four years over the statutory time limit and during a period when the Catholic Church in Ireland was rocked by an unprecedented series of sex and child sex abuse scandals, ranging from the resignation of the Bishop of Galway Dr Eamon Casey, to the Brendan Smyth child abuse case.
One of Dr Daly's secretaries in his Armagh office, when asked if it was true that the Cardinal's retirement was imminent, said "that would be news to us". He referred The Irish Times to the Catholic press and information office in Dublin. Dr Daly was not available for comment on the matter as he was on his way to France for the Papal visit, the secretary said.
A spokesman for the press office said he had no knowledge that Dr Daly was about to resign. He had "no such information" and that where such matters were concerned he "would normally be informed in advance".
Dr Daly will be succeeded by Archbishop Sean Brady, the Co-Adjutor Archbishop of Armagh, who was appointed to that position two years after having previously served as Rector of the Irish College in Rome.
Vatican sources this week pointed out that the fact that Dr Brady is not a Cardinal in no way prevents him becoming Irish Primate, adding that it is probable, although not obligatory that Dr Brady will be made Cardinal at the next Consistory called by the Pope.
Senior Curia figures suggest that the new Primate's major concerns will be the same as those of Dr Daly and will focus, above all, on steering the Catholic Church in Ireland through a period of unprecedented difficulty.