Born on Christmas Day in 1950 and passing away on 11th August 2024, Noël Treanor was a notable figure within the Catholic Church, holding such prestigious roles as the Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union and the Bishop of Down and Connor, the largest Catholic diocese Northern Ireland has to offer. His sudden death at the age of 73 came as a shock in August.
Since his assignment in 2022 to the crucial diplomatic position within the Catholic Church in the EU by none other than Pope Francis, Archbishop Treanor was headquartered in Brussels. He previously performed the roles of Secretary General from 1993 to 2008 and Vice-President from 2018 to 2022 of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE).
His responsibilities also encompassed acting as the president of Justice and Peace Europe from 2018 to 2022. This organisation, an extensive network of national commissions instituted by Catholic bishops, advocates for human rights and battles poverty. It takes a firm stance on peace, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship of our world.
Archbishop Treanor was revered for his gifted orations and adept diplomacy. His proficiency in multiple languages including Italian, French, German, and Spanish was also admirable, marking him as an accomplished linguist. Bishop Alan McGuckian, the present bishop of Down and Connor, praised him as a significantly talented academic, a proficient linguist, and a highly skilled diplomat.
Appointed the Bishop of Down and Connor in 2008, many observers interpreted this move as a staging post for Archbishop Treanor to rise to the ultimate position of Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. However, he garnered attention in 2012 when he criticised Ian Elliott, then serving as the chief executive of the National Board for Safeguarding Children – the Catholic Church’s child protection watchdog, accusing him of misrepresenting the bishops’ position on child protection to journalists.
Patsy McGarry, previous correspondent for religious matters, reflects on the establishment of an independent review led by Justice Catherine McGuinness. No signs were found indicating that Mr Elliott was twisting information against the bishops for the media. Upon this revelation, Bishop Treanor offered his apology, however, the blow was already struck. McGarry comments it put a stain on him with the accusation of poor judgment, a price many attribute as the cause of losing the all-Ireland supremacy.
In the year 2013, Eamon Martin, the then leader of the diocese of Derry, was conferred with the title of coadjutor archbishop of Armagh. This position guaranteed him the succession of Cardinal Brady upon his retirement in 2014. Bishop Treanor retained his position as the bishop of Down and Connor until his transition to Brussels in 2022.
During his tenure as the bishop of Down and Connor, he publicly voiced his views on various subjects including the Lisbon Treaty (urging Catholics to vote in affirmation), marriage equality (advocating for the defence of Catholics disapproving to officiate same-sex marriages), and Brexit. Regarding Brexit, he expressed strong support for a vote against it. In 2016, he defended the European project as an earnest and respectable endeavour to actualise the vision of a global governing authority serving the collective good of mankind.
Continuously encouraging peace in Northern Ireland, he conveyed his irritation for the prolonged dormancy of a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly. In a sermon in January 2018, he emphasised on the necessity for visionary, innovative and audacious leaders who can spin a fresh narrative for a rising, challenging future where our main assets and source of human capital are the citizens of varied ethnic, cultural, religious and other backgrounds.
He challenged people to let go of the oppressive and stagnating influences reignited by fear and suspicion in pursuit of constructing a new future appreciable by every citizen, with a special focus on the most vulnerable and newcomers in society.
Archbishop Noël Treanor, a native of the County Monaghan village, Silverstream, remembered for his efforts in building bridges among various communities, was paid homage by Archbishop John McDowell, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. He referred to an instance when Archbishop Treanor, excellently prepared, spoke candidly and warmly to the people of the small protestant community at an ecumenical gathering at a small parish church in Tyholland, near his hometown, leaving aside his prepared notes.
Being one of the three children of parents John and Molly Treanor, Noël Treanor completed his preliminary education at St Mary’s Christian Brothers School in Monaghan. His journey in religious studies began at St Patrick’s College Maynooth, where he delved into the arts, philosophy, and theology. In 1976, he received his holy orders to the Diocese of Clogher.
Post-ordination, he was transferred to the Pontifical Irish College in Rome to continue his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he achieved his licentiate in sacred theology with special commendation in 1977. After being recalled to the diocese of Clogher in 1980, he was assigned his first duty in the local Catholic marriage advisory council.
He returned to Rome in 1981 for advanced studies and also held the position of the prefect of studies at the Pontifical Irish College. Back in Ireland by 1985, he was bestowed with the responsibility of the diocesan director of adult education and by 1986 he played a pivotal role in organising the diocesan assembly of the clergy to foster pastoral renewal.
His journey to Brussels was in 1989 to associate with COMECE. From then on, until being assigned as the bishop of Down and Connor, he committed his efforts to advocate Christian values across Europe.
President Michael D Higgins has expressed his belief that Archbishop Treanor was passionately devoted to the idea of a union that valued diversity and was grounded on a common morality. President Higgins reminisced about his personal input to a discussion named ‘A Soul for Europe’, which was orchestrated by Treanor while Jacques Delors was holding the position of President of the European Commission. He highlighted that this dialogue encapsulated not only individuals of every faith and numerous humanist ideologies, but also all those possessing ethical standards. Archbishop Noël Treanor’s surviving relatives include his brother, John, and sister, Mary.