The Archbishop of Dublin has called for solidarity towards the most marginalised in society, including migrants.
Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell was speaking at the episcopal ordination of Fr Donal Roche as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, whose appointment was announced by Pope Francis in March.
The ordination was also a means of welcoming Bishop Paul Dempsey, who was also announced as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in April.
In his homely, Archbishop Farrell said leadership in the Catholic Church must offer the friendship of Christ to the poor, the excluded, those isolated, to migrants and to the sick.
He said it should also be offered to the vulnerable, and to those whose bodies have been devastated, and whose lives, families, and communities have been degraded by cycles of dependency, and by the fear instilled by those who cynically profit from "the fragility of their brothers and sisters".
Archbishop Farrell said church leadership was required when questions about "the rights of migrants and refugees, and capacity to welcome them are being raised, and at times manipulated".
He said that in seeking two auxiliary bishops, he had the needs of the diocese to the fore, in responding to the rapidly changing social and pastoral needs of the people of the Dublin diocese.
