His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed the Archbishop of Tuam Francis Duffy as Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese of Killala, following the retirement of Bishop John Fleming. In addition, the Pope has appointed the Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Achonry, due to the episcopal reassignment of Bishop Paul Dempsey, who will now become Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The changes were announced in Tuam Cathedral last week by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor.
The Papal Nuncio explained that “the dioceses of Killala and Achonry have become vacant Episcopal Sees entrusted to the pastoral care of their respective Apostolic Administrator. In due time, and following careful assessment and consultation, the present dioceses of Tuam & Killala on one hand, and Elphin & Achonry on the other, may be governed by one Bishop in each case, just as the Dioceses of Galway & Clonfert are today governed by one Bisihop. If this process evolves still further, the associated Dioceses may then fully merge under their Bishop, and in this way, the six Dioceses in the Province of Tuam will eventually become three”.