On 14 November 2025, Pope Leo XIV formally designated St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral as the Cathedral Church of the Archdiocese of Dublin, marking the first time in over 500 years that the capital has had an official Catholic cathedral.
The announcement was made by Archbishop Dermot Farrell during Mass celebrating the bicentenary of the cathedral, held on the Feast of St Laurence O’Toole. He expressed “great joy” that the Holy Father had consented to the request, describing the moment as a significant step in the life of the Church in Dublin.

Built in 1825 on Marlborough Street, St Mary’s was originally intended as a temporary structure—hence the title “Pro-Cathedral,” from pro tempore. With this new designation, the title “Pro” will now be dropped, and the church will be known simply as St Mary’s Cathedral.
The absence of a Catholic cathedral in Dublin dates back to the Protestant Reformation, when Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick’s Cathedral passed into the custody of the Church of Ireland. For centuries, particularly under the Penal Laws, Dublin’s Catholic population was without a cathedral church, until the construction of St Mary’s in the early nineteenth century.

The cathedral has long held a central place in the civic and religious life of the nation. Its crypt contains the remains of nearly 1,000 people, and it has hosted major historical moments, including the 1922 funeral of Michael Collins and the funeral of Fenian leader Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa. More recently, Pope Francis visited the cathedral during the World Meeting of Families 2018.

Speaking after the announcement, Archbishop Farrell described the change as a “big transition,” noting the importance of establishing a permanent cathedral for the archdiocese. He also acknowledged that the shift in name may take time, given the long-standing familiarity of “the Pro” among Dubliners.
The designation comes as the cathedral enters a new phase of renewal, with major restoration plans already granted permission by Dublin City Council, pointing towards a future that builds on two centuries of faith and witness in the heart of the city.