POPE Francis has been "saddened" by the death of Bishop Gerard Clifford, mourners attending the cleric's funeral Mass heard yesterday.
Bishop Clifford died earlier this week, aged 75, following a period of ill health.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, the chief celebrant at the Mass in the Church of Saint Patrick, Dundalk, Co Louth, read out a message of condolence from the pontiff.
"The Holy Father was saddened to learn of the death of Bishop Gerard Clifford and he sends heartfelt condolences to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Armagh," he said.
"United with you in prayerful thanksgiving for his generous and dedicated episcopal ministry in the service of education and ecumenism, His Holiness joins those gathered for the solemn funeral rites in commending the soul of the late Prelate to our Heavenly Father's merciful love. Upon all who mourn Bishop Clifford 's passing, Pope Francis cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and consolation in the Lord Jesus Christ."
Born in Bellurgan, Co Louth, in 1941, Bishop Clifford was ordained in 1967.
He was director of religious education in the Archdiocese of Armagh between 1969 and 1979.
After Pope John Paul II appealed for churches to work more closely together during his 1979 visit to Ireland, Bishop Clifford became heavily involved in ecumenical work.
He worked with the late Church of Ireland Canon William Arlow as ecumenical and reconciliation officer of the diocese. The pair organised a major ecumenical pilgrimage to Iona in 1984. Bishop Clifford also organised ecumenical talks twice a year with St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.
He was also responsible for organising inter-church services in Armagh Cathedral.
Bishop Clifford served as president of pro-life crisis pregnancy counselling service Cura between 2010 and 2013.
