REQUIEM Mass for Archbishop Noel Treanor will take place in Belgium on Friday.
The former Bishop of Down and Connor died suddenly in Brussels last Sunday at the age of 73.
He was working in the Belgian capital after being appointed as the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to the European Union by Pope Francis last year.
Tributes have poured in following his passing, including from All Ireland Primate, Archbishop Eamon Martin, who said his colleague had worked to “forge positive relations with partner countries of the European Union and to help nourish the Christian heart and soul of Europe”.
Details emerged on Wednesday of the Requiem Mass for Archbishop Treanor, which will be held at 10am on Friday at the Church of Notre-Dame au Sablon in Brussels.
The Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Jozef de Kesel, the Archbishop Emeritus of Malines-Brussels, along with Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, Archbishop of Luxembourg, and Bishop Mariano Crociata, president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union.
Details from the Belgian Bishops’ Conference states the liturgical celebration “will afford the opportunity for all in Belgium to make their farewells to Monsignor Noel Treanor, before his remains leave for Ireland later that evening”.
It is understood an event to celebrate the life of Archbishop Treanor will take place in Belfast, speculated to be held at St Peter’s Cathedral in the west of the city, although no details have yet been made available.
Bishop Crociata, who will celebrate the Requiem Mass in Brussels, praised the work of Archbishop Treanor following his death, saying: “We have lost a true man of dialogue who passionately and creatively accompanied EU integration from a Catholic perspective.”
He continued: “Mgr Treanor left an indelible mark on all of us. He was a tireless servant of God, a true man of dialogue, an accurate analyser and an exceptionally gifted speaker. In Northern Ireland, he was a fervent promoter of reconciliation and peace, acting as a bridge-builder between communities.”
The bishop added: “His passing is a significant loss for all of us, for the Church, and for the European Union.”
