Former Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland dies

On Friday, the Catholic Communications Office of the Irish Bishops Conference sent us the following statement: The Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland has the sad duty to inform of the death of Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi, former Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland. Archbishop Alibrandi was born on 14 January 1914 in Castiglione di Sicilia, diocese of Acireale (Sicily). He was ordained a priest on 1 November 1936. After attending the Pontifical Seminary of Rome, he obtained a Doctorate in Divinity from the Pontifical Lateran University. He went on to obtain from the same University a Doctorate in Civil and Canon Law. On entering the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See in 1941, he served for five years in the Vatican Secretariat of State and subsequently in the Apostolic Nunciatures in Italy, Turkey, Ireland, Mexico and Indonesia. He was appointed Titular Archbishop of Binda and Apostolic Nuncio to Chile on 5 October 1961 and received his Episcopal Ordination on 8 December 1961. He also served as Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon (1964 -1969) prior to his appointment to Ireland in 1969 where he served for almost 20 years (19 April 1969 - 15 January 1989). After reaching the retirement age of 75, he returned to his home town in Sicily and there he died, yesterday, 3 July. His funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday in Castiglione di Sicilia by Archbishop Paolo Romeo, Apostolic Nuncio to Italy. A memorial Mass for Archbishop Alibrandi will be celebrated by Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, on Friday, 11 July at 19.30 in the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Navan Road, Dublin. May his soul rest in peace and receive the reward the Lord has reserved for his faithful servants. The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady, said: "I have heard the sad news of the death, in his native Sicily, of Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi, former Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland. "On behalf of the Church in Ireland, and particularly on behalf of the Irish Bishops' Conference, I offer sympathy to his sorrowing family and friends. I join with them in thanking God for his life of faithful service and in fervent prayer for his eternal happiness."