The Catholic Primate of All Ireland has prayed that the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement will be a catalyst for greater engagement in the unfinished work of peace, healing, and reconciliation.
In his Easter message, Archbishop Eamon Martin said the Agreement's vision of a peaceful and reconciled society had not yet been accomplished.
"We have not found a way of healing the awful open wounds of the past or sustaining positive relationships within, and between these islands," he said.
The Archbishop of Armagh expressed thanks for the lives and livelihoods saved since 1998 and for the architects of the Agreement who "took such risks for peace, making political compromises" to secure a better future.
"I am grateful that hostilities were largely ended in 1998 and the lethal bombs and bullets were removed from politics on this island," he said.
However, Archbishop Martin also noted that he experienced "mixed emotions" when he attended the anniversary ceremony in Stormont yesterday.
He said he was "saddened" that division remains between people due to distrust, sectarianism, and the continued threatening presence of paramilitaries.
"We seem to be unable to agree to govern ourselves in a normal manner for any reasonable length of time," he said.
"We must all share responsibility that the Agreement's vision of a peaceful and reconciled society has not yet been accomplished.
"We have not found a way of healing the awful open wounds of the past or sustaining positive relationships within, and between these islands," Archbishop Martin said.
He described the work of reconciliation as "compulsory" for Christians and not an optional extra in the Gospel message and teaching of Jesus - but "a core value".
"To leave unchallenged the existence of sectarianism, bigotry, hatred and violence between Christians, is a grave scandal", he said.
