Funeral of Archbishop Noel Treanor takes place in Belfast

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

Archbishop Treanor was appointed Diplomatic Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union by Pope Francis in 2023.

The EU represents the Holy See, the government of the Catholic Church, in Brussels.

Mourners at Tuesday’s funeral heard of Archbishop Treanor’s love for his roots in County Monaghan and his passion for “Catholic social teaching.”

He was ordained a priest in 1976 and served in the Diocese of Clogher at 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 and stretches from the north coast of Northern Ireland to Kilkeel in County Down.

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

He said the “capacity for strong bonds of friendship that he shared with so many people, even beyond the boundaries of family, was born in the parental home.”

“He obviously loved his parents and his brother and sister, John and Mary, their spouses, Margaret and Jim – and their children and grandchildren and the many cousins ​​with whom he remained close friends throughout his life.”

Archbishop Treanor was Chairman of the Governing Body of St Mary’s University College, Belfast, for over 14 years.

The congregation was also told of his “deep commitment to the European project”, which he expresses in his diplomatic role as apostolic nuncio to the European Union and in his “elaboration of the essential link between faith and culture in a very demanding way”.