Bishop Fintan Gavin welcomes the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost OSA as our new pope.

Cardinal Prevost has taken the name Pope Leo XIV and his election comes on day two of the Conclave in Rome where 133 cardinal electors were gathered in the Sistine Chapel.

Bishop Fintan Gavin also extends his congratulations to the community of Augustinian Friars in Cork as the new pope belongs to the worldwide Augustinian family which is one of the oldest religious orders of the Catholic Church.

“It’s very encouraging to hear the key points made by the Holy Father in his first remarks. He emphasised the need for unity and peace in the world and in the Church.” 

“Pope Leo also has a connection with Cork and Ross Diocese because until last year he was a bishop in Peru. Many of the priests and religious sisters in our diocese have also spent time as missionaries in Peru.”

The choice of name which the new pope has taken also tells us something of his emphasis in faith, Bishop Fintan said. 

“Pope Leo XIII, the last pope to take the name Leo, issued an important document in 1891 on the social teaching of the Church. And this new pope is someone who has ministered among the poor in Peru.”

I invite the people of our diocese to pray for Pope Leo as he becomes our chief shepherd and guides us closer to the Risen Lord.”

Cardinal Provost announced as Pope Leo XIV

Cork’s Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne drew people from across the city and beyond to pray at Mass for Pope Francis.

The special solemn Mass was held on Friday evening and was celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin and concelebrated by priests from parishes, religious orders and chaplaincies.

The Mayor of Cork City Councillor Dan Boyle and the Mayor of County Cork Councillor Joe Carroll were present and brought forward the offertory gifts during the Mass.

Bishop Fintan said that he was fortunate to have met Pope Francis several times.

“Reflecting on this in recent days I am struck by the fact that Pope Francis always finished those encounters with the same request “Prega per me”, “Pregate per me” -- Pray for me, Pray for me.

“That is exactly what we are doing here this evening – we are praying for Pope Francis as he goes home to the house of the Father.  We pray for the repose of his soul and commend him to the mercy of God which was such a central theme during his pontificate.”

The Mass at the Cathedral was one of several Masses in churches across the diocese for Pope Francis. 

A Solemn Mass for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, Cork, on Friday evening 25th April at 7.30pm.

The principal celebrant will be Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, who has issued an open invitation to all.  

Parishioners, priests, deacons and religious from across the diocese will gather to give thanks for the life of Pope Francis and to entrust him to God’s mercy on the evening before his funeral takes place in Rome. 

Parking will be available at the Cathedral and nearby at St Anthony’s Convent / St Vincents.

Let us entrust Pope Francis to God’s mercy and continue to pray for the Church as she prepares to elect a new successor of St. Peter.

Mass for Pope Francis

Online Book of Condolence is open

Following the announcement by the Holy See that Pope Francis has ‘returned to the House of the Lord’, Bishop Fintan Gavin invites the people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross to unite in prayer to God at this time.

“I invite the parishioners, priests, deacons and religious of our diocese to join as one with the faithful across the globe as we commend Pope Francis to the Lord.

We give thanks to Almighty God for the gift of Pope Francis as shepherd of the people of God and we thank God for his selfless service and dedication to the end of his earthly life. 

We remember Pope Francis as one who challenged us to reach out to those on the margins and to bring God’s mercy to all those we encounter.

We pray together that Pope Francis’ call to all of us to make this Jubilee Year a Year of Hope may be fulfilled. 

The Holy Thursday Mass of Chrism will be celebrated at Cork's Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne this Thursday morning

Bishop Fintan Gavin welcomes parishioners, priests, deacons and religious from across the diocese.

The Mass of Chrism begins at 10.00am. 

The Mass gets its name from the fact that it includes the:

• Renewal of Priestly Promises
• Blessing of the Oil of the Sick
• Blessing of the Oil of Catechumens
• and the Consecration of the Chrism

These blessed oils are taken to each of the parishes, hospitals, and faith communities of the diocese for use in the sacraments throughout the year.

This is the only Mass celebrated in the diocese on Holy Thursday morning. This highlights our unity as one diocese and our membership of the one family of God.

Later on Holy Thursday evening, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated in parishes and faith communities to mark the start of the Easter Triduum.

Each parish takes three sets of holy oils back to the parish

The annual Corpus Christi Eucharistic Procession is scheduled to take place on

Sunday 22 June 2025

This year marks the 99th anniversary of the inaugural Procession.

Change to the Route

There is one significant change to the Procession for 2025. To accommodate the large gathering, the Procession will conclude at a specially constructed Altar near the monument on the Grand Parade

Invitation to All

Bishop Fintan Gavin warmly invites everyone to participate in this cherished tradition and important expression of our faith. Please mark this date in your diary.