He was Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland from 1996 until 2014, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory on 24 November 2007.
He taught a variety of subjects including Latin, Commerce, Religion, and French, as well as training college football teams at all age levels.
[8] When it was announced at the start of summer 1979 that Pope John Paul II would visit Ireland at the end of September there was an urgency for priests with available time, language skills and organisational ability.
[4] He received his episcopal consecration on 19 February 1995 from Cahal Cardinal Daly, with Archbishop Emanuele Gerada and Bishop Gerard Clifford serving as co-consecrators, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
[1] On 24 November 2007, Archbishop Brady was created Cardinal-Priest of Santi Quirico e Giulitta as a symbol of the new cardinal's role in helping the pontiff to minister to the diocese of Rome.
Senior Vatican figures suggested that the archbishop's positive contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process weighed heavily in Pope Benedict's decision to make him a Cardinal.
In April 2010, Cardinal Brady, who was under pressure to resign and had publicly stated he was considering his position over his role in the cover-up of the activities of a paedophile priest, was officiating at a confirmation ceremony in the parish church of Kildress in County Tyrone, when he fell ill.
[12] On 26 October 2009, Cardinal Brady said that further cuts to the Republic of Ireland's overseas development budget would have a devastating impact on the lives of some of the world's poorest people.
He said that parents had a right to have their children educated in accordance with their philosophical and religious convictions and the State had a duty to support this with public funds.
[14] In December 2010 Cardinal Brady said a European Court of Human Rights ruling did not oblige the State to introduce legislation authorising abortion.
The European court ruled Ireland has failed to properly implement the constitutional right to abortion where a woman is entitled to one where her life is at risk.
[15] In November 2011 Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore announced that due to cost-cutting measures, the Irish embassy to the Holy See would close and that the duties of the ambassador would be dealt with by the secretary-general of the department.
Cardinal Brady said that the closure "means that Ireland will be without a resident Ambassador to the Holy See for the first time since diplomatic relations were established and envoys were exchanged between the two states in 1929".
The unprecedented 15–16 February 2010 summit at the Vatican with Pope Benedict and senior members of the Curia was described by the Cardinal as "one step in a process [...] which will lead to a journey of repentance, renewal and reconciliation".
[27] Standing outside Armagh Cathedral, Brady acknowledged there were some who would not agree with his decision but vowed to lead the Church's efforts to improve child protection measures.
Brady told mass-goers at his Saint Patrick's Day homily in March that he would take a period of time to reflect on his future in the church.
Speaking at a mass in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon, held to mark the 200th anniversary of St Nathy's College there, he said: "I sometimes wonder if we are in danger of losing our sense of mercy and forgiveness in Ireland today.
"[29] In May 2012 the BBC television programme This World found that Brady had the names and addresses of children being abused by the paedophile priest Brendan Smyth, but "did not ensure their safety".