'A once-in-a-lifetime' visit as the Pope’s representative confirms Buncrana visit

The Pope’s representative in Ireland, the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, is coming to Buncrana in what is being described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” visit.

The Papal Nuncio will join the Bishop of Derry Dr Donal McKeown to officially unveil a new statue of Fr James Hegarty at Fr Hegarty’s Rock this Friday, April 4 at 2.30pm.

The unveiling of the statue is part of the Shore Walk Public Artwork and Refurbishment Project, which has been funded by Donegal County Council.

Archbishop Montemayor (69) has served as the Papal Nuncio for Ireland since February 2023. He hails from Buenos Aires and is a personal friend of Pope Francis, who’s also a native of the Argentinian capital.

Buncrana Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley, who helped arrange the historic visit, says it’s nice to think that the Pope will likely know about the Buncrana event in due course too.

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He explains how it all came about following a meeting last month to discuss potential future plans for the Derry and Raphoe dioceses.

“I met with the Papal Nuncio and afterwards I told him that we were having a small event along the shores of Lough Swilly in the Derry Diocese looking out across to the Raphoe Diocese,” Fr Bradley said. “I told him that we would be delighted if he could attend, but never in a thousand years did I think he would actually be able to come.”

Archbishop Montemayor is just the second Argentinian to be named an Apostolic Nuncio, and he’s the fifteenth Apostolic Nuncio appointed to Ireland since diplomatic relationships were established with the Holy See in 1929.

Fr Bradley is understandably thrilled by the prospect of such a high-profile visit and he’s asking the community to turn-out in big numbers to welcome the Archbishop and to further celebrate Fr Hegarty’s lasting legacy.

“It is a huge honour for us to host someone who holds the highest ecclesiastical office in this country. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Buncrana’s most celebrated priest Fr Hegarty was murdered by the British for saying Mass during the Penal Times in the early 18th century - and Fr Bradley says it’s a fitting tribute to him, three centuries later, to have someone of the Papal Nuncio’s standing unveil his statue.