Dublin: In a historic move, Pope Leo XIV has elevated St Mary’s Pro Cathedral in Dublin to the status of the city’s official Catholic Cathedral, shedding its “temporary” designation and marking the first permanent Catholic cathedral in the Irish capital for half a millennium.
Situated on Marlborough Street, St Mary’s was originally constructed in 1825 as a provisional solution, with the understanding that a dedicated cathedral would be built in the future. The term “Pro,” short for Pro Tempore, reflected this temporary status but following the papal decree, the cathedral will henceforth be known simply as St Mary’s Cathedral.
The request for this elevation coincides with the cathedral’s bicentennial celebrations. Plans for major restoration are already underway, with recent approvals granted by Dublin City Council, signaling a new era of preservation and enhancement for the historic site.
The absence of a Catholic cathedral in Dublin traces back to the Reformation. Previously, Christ Church Cathedral served the Catholic faithful, but following the Protestant break from Rome, both Christ Church and St Patrick’s Cathedral were claimed by the Church of Ireland. For three centuries, Catholics in Dublin lacked a formal cathedral, until St Mary’s was completed in 1825 as a temporary sanctuary.
This long-standing issue, rooted in the Reformation and the ensuing Penal Laws, left the city’s Catholic community without a permanent cathedral for 500 years. The papal recognition now rectifies a historical gap that has shaped Dublin’s ecclesiastical landscape for centuries.
Archbishop Dermot Farrell announced the milestone during his homily at a Mass commemorating the cathedral’s bicentenary, celebrated on the Feast of St Laurence O’Toole. “It is with great joy that Pope Leo has granted our request,” Archbishop Farrell told parishioners, highlighting the cathedral’s new role as the official seat of the Archdiocese.
Reflecting on the significance, the Archbishop described the change as a “major transition” for the city’s Catholic community. While day-to-day life for parishioners may remain largely unchanged, he acknowledged that adjusting to the absence of “Pro” in the cathedral’s name may take time.
With this designation, Dublin now finally has a permanent Catholic cathedral, closing a chapter of ecclesiastical history that has spanned five centuries and opening a new one of continuity, heritage, and faith.