SPECULATION is mounting over who will be appointed the new bishop of Ireland's second largest diocese.
Just days after it was revealed that Bishop Noel Treanor will leave the diocese of Down and Connor to take up a diplomatic post as the Vatican's ambassador to Brussels, several possible contenders for his successor have been mooted.
Fr Tim Bartlett and Fr Eugene O'Hagan, both priests in Down and Connor, were among the names suggested last night, while Bishop of Raphoe Fr Alan McGuckian and Bishop Michael Router, Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, have also been tipped.
Bishop Treanor had been appointed as the Vatican's apostolic nuncio to the European Union by Pope Francis. He will begin his new role in January, continuing to govern the diocese until a successor is appointed.
A diocese spokesman said "an announcement will be made regarding the pastoral care and governance of the diocese on his departure, pending the appointment of a successor".
Michael Kelly, editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper, last night said he believed Fr Bartlett, originally from north Belfast, would be among the top choices.
"One of the front-runners has to be Fr Bartlett," he said.
"He's a very popular parish priest, very efficient and obviously has had much involvement in the church over the years, from parish level to the Irish Bishops Conference.
"There's also Fr Alan McGuckian, who is originally from Belfast. He is the current bishop of Raphoe, but has worked in the past with Bishop Treanor in the diocese of Down and Connor, so he would be familiar with the diocese. I would say he would be an obvious choice or one in good contention.
"Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, Michael Router, may also be one of those to the considered. He is someone who is relatively young, he's aged in his fifties, so he would be able to fulfil the post for the next 20 years or so. There is also Fr Eugene O'Hagan, who is very well respected and always on top of things and knows the diocese well."
Under Pope Francis, previous new appointments have tended to come from outside a diocese, which Mr Kelly said would point to someone not currently serving in the Down and Connor diocese.
"It is very difficult to know the mind of Pope Francis, in other appointments he has tended to choose someone from outside the diocese," he said.
"For example, the recent appointment of Bishop of Ossary was Fr Niall Coll, who is originally from Donegal.
"Very often it seems that it would be an outsider who would have the edge.
"But the problem of choosing someone new to the diocese is that it could take them two to three years to bed into the position, whereas someone who is familiar with the diocese will be able to hit the ground running.
"You are looking for that balance, so perhaps someone like Fr McGuckian, who is currently from outside the diocese, but is someone who knows the diocese and previously worked in it, would be an obvious choice."
