A special service is being held today in Mullingar Cathedral by the Catholic Church in Ireland to support the potential sainthood of Fr Willie Doyle, an Irish priest killed in World War One. Following the service, thousands of documents will be sent to the Vatican to advance his canonisation case.
Fr Doyle served as a British Army chaplain during the First World War, including at battles such as the Somme, Messines, and Passchendaele. He was known for his courage, repeatedly entering No Man's Land to assist wounded troops or comfort the fatally injured.
He died on 16 August 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele, killed by shellfire while going to the aid of two wounded Protestant soldiers. The Catholic Church in Ireland considers him an "ecumenical martyr of charity" for ministering to soldiers of other Christian denominations.
The campaign for his sainthood is led by the Fr Willie Doyle Association. Fr Doyle was awarded the Military Cross for bravery at the Battle of the Somme and was mentioned in despatches on multiple occasions.
The Diocese of Meath opened a diocesan inquiry in 2022, conducting an extensive investigation that included a theological commission, a historical commission, and a diocesan tribunal. This process has generated nearly 3,500 pages of documentation for submission to Rome.