Irish priest appointed chaplain to Pope John Paul II

Rev Joseph Murphy, a priest of the Diocese of Cloyne has been appointed chaplain to Pope John Paul II. The appointment took effect on 1 November. Mgr Murphy, who was born in the parish of Donoughmore in the Diocese of Cloyne, after his Second level studies in St Colman's College, Fermoy, entered St Patrick's College, Maynooth in 1986 to begin his studies for the priesthood. Having finished his primary degree studies in Maynooth with a First Class Honours Degree, Joseph was sent to the Pontifical Irish College in Rome to continue his studies in 1989. In 1991 he transferred to the Pontifical French College in Rome while continuing his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Joseph Murphy was ordained to the Priesthood in Donoughmore by the Bishop of Cloyne, the Most Rev John Magee, on 11 July 1993. After his ordination, Father Joseph engaged in post-graduate studies at the Gregorian University taking his Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He is continuing his studies towards a Doctorate in Sacred Theology. In September 1997 Fr Joseph entered the service of the Holy See becoming an Official of the Secretariat of State of the Holy Father. In January 2002 he was appointed Private Secretary to his Eminence, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. A statement from the Irish Bishops' Conference communications office says: "With his present appointment as Chaplain to His Holiness the Bishop, Priests, Religious and lay-faithful of the Diocese are truly overjoyed and wish Monsignor Joseph Murphy many, many years of continued service of the Universal Church and fruitful ministry as a Priest of the Diocese of Cloyne." Source: Irish Bishops' Conference Communications Office