Archbishop Duffy looks forward to a 'future full of hope' following appointment to north Mayo diocese

The Archbishop of Tuam, Francis Duffy has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the Bishop of Killala and will minister simultaneously as Archbishop of Tuam and the north Mayo diocese. 

The news of this Episcopal appointment was made public this morning following the celebration of Mass in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina in the Diocese of Killala. 

The announcement had been made public two years ago following the resignation of Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala, due to age.  

Speaking in St Muredach's Cathedral this morning, Archbishop Duffy said that while the two dioceses will share the same bishop they will 'remain distinct'.

“On this occasion, something new is happening here.  For the first time, the Bishop of Killala is, at the same time, the Archbishop of Tuam, and in him both dioceses are united.  The Church describes this as the union of dioceses in persona episcopi, in the person of the Bishop.  The two dioceses remain distinct, their individual identities are preserved, they are governed separately, but they share the same Bishop.

“This development was foreseen when, almost two years ago, the Apostolic Nuncio outlined the broader structural vision for the dioceses in the West of Ireland, in our grouping of six dioceses known as the Metropolitan Province of Tuam.   

“Archbishop Montemayor, spoke of a gradual reorganisation, shared episcopal governance, strength through unity, and an eventual merging of dioceses. It is important to note, and it must be emphasised, that the Apostolic Nuncio framed this reorganisation not as decline, but as strategic adaptation to evolving pastoral realities.

“However, reorganisation is not purely administrative. It is rooted and lived in pastoral experience.  That is not to say that an occasion such as this does not also generate feelings of loneliness, or even regret that what was so familiar and normal in the past, is no longer the case. There may be a sense, among some, that something is being lost – our identity, our diocesan history and culture, our uniqueness. These are real feelings, and they must be understood and acknowledged sensitively,” he said.

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Mayo is covered mostly by the dioceses of Tuam and Killala and partially by the Achonry and Galway dioceses. 

A native of Co Cavan, Bishop Francis was installed as Archbishop of Tuam in January 2022 and on April 10, 2024, Pope Francis appointed him as Apostolic Administrator of Killala.

Archbishop Duffy also paid tribute to Bishop Fleming who had served as Bishop of Killala for 22 years and looked forward to cont

“I wish to pay tribute to, and thank my predecessor, Bishop John Fleming, who served as bishop in this diocese for twenty-two years.  Bishop John’s vision, his ability to listen and read the signs of the times, and his dedicated work have contributed immensely to pastoral initiatives in this diocese.  Bishop John, we owe you a debt of gratitude and we thank you for your leadership.” he said.

“When I became Apostolic Administrator almost two years ago, it was a priority for me to get to know the priests, people and parishes of Killala, not to mention its geography.  It was a great experience to visit priests in their homes and listen to their accounts of life and their views.  

“These visitations brought me across great stretches of territory, and beautiful landscape, from Blacksod Bay in Erris over to Drumard in County Sligo; down south to Ballycroy and Glenhest in County Mayo.

“Having already accompanied you since Bishop John’s retirement, I am honoured to have been given this appointment, and I invite you to join me as we, trusting in the Lord, go forward together into ‘a future full of hope’,” he concluded.