Archbishop Noel Treanor 'loved his roots in Monaghan'

The funeral took place at St Peter's Cathedral in Belfast

The funeral of a former Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, Noel Treanor, has taken place at St Peter’s Cathedral in Belfast.

Archbishop Treanor was appointed by Pope Francis to the diplomatic role of apostolic nuncio to the European Union in 2023.

The EU position acts as the representative of the Holy See, or the Catholic Church's government, in Brussels.

Mourners at the funeral on Tuesday heard of Archbishop Treanor's love for his roots in County Monaghan and passion for "Catholic social teaching".

Archbishop Treanor was appointed by Pope Francis to the diplomatic role of apostolic nuncio to the European Union in 2023

He was ordained as a priest in 1976 and served in the diocese of Clogher in St Macartan’s Cathedral in County Monaghan.

He was later appointed Bishop of Down and Connor by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

It is the second largest diocese on the island of Ireland, stretching from Northern Ireland's north coast to Kilkeel in County Down.

The homily was delivered by the current Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, Alan McGuckian, who said that Archbishop Treanor always spoke with great affection for Monaghan and its people.

Mourners, including the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, were told of Archbishop Treanor's affection for his roots in County Monaghan

He said the "capacity for strong bonds of friendship that he shared with so many people, also beyond the confines of kinship, was born in the family home".

“He clearly loved his parents and his brother and sister, John and Mary, their spouses, Margaret and Jim - and their children and their children’s children and the many cousins with whom he remained close throughout his life.”

Archbishop Treanor served as chair of the board of governors at St Mary's University College in Belfast for more than 14 years.

The congregation was also told about "his deep commitment to the European project", through his diplomatic role of apostolic nuncio to the European Union and his "teasing out, in very sophisticated ways, the essential link between faith and culture".