Tributes have been paid following the death of Archbishop Noel Treanor, the former Bishop of Down and Connor, at the age of 73.
He passed away in Brussels on Sunday morning.
His death was announced by Alan McGuckian, the current Bishop of Down and Connor.
Colin McGrath, an SDLP MLA for South Down, was among those paying tribute.
“I remember his work and especially his opening of the new Primary school building at my old school in Saul,” he said in a post on X.
Phillip Brett, the DUP MLA for North Belfast, said he was “very sorry” at his passing.
“His dedication and service to North Belfast, in particular to the Mater Hospital, will be fondly remembered,” he added.
EU diplomat Angelina Eichhorst said there was “shock and sadness” at the news.
“My sincere condolences to the Nuncio’s family and friends. His passing is a terrible loss, may he rest in peace,” she posted on social media.
The senior cleric was appointed as The Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union two years ago.
The role in the ecclesiastical office of the Catholic Church, which has offices in Brussels, was announced by Pope Francis in 2022.
However Archbishop Treanor, who was born on Christmas Day in 1950 and originally from Monaghan town, did not commence the role until January 2023.
After completing his early education at Saint Mary’s Christian Brothers School in the county, he embarked on his third level education at Saint Patrick’s College in Maynooth and subsequently in Rome.
The young scholar was ordained as a priest in 1976 for service in the diocese of Clogher in Saint Macartan’s Cathedral in Co Monaghan before being appointed to the staff of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) in 1989.
Four years later, the cleric was appointed Secretary General of COMECE and remained in the post until his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI as Bishop of Down and Connor in 2008.
Archbishop Treanor is survived by his brother John and his sister Mary.