in may 2006, pope benedict xvi recognised his service to the roman catholic church by bestowing the order of st. gregory the great on mccaffrey, with the title knight commander. he first met the then cardinal ratzinger while a student at cambridge in 1988, interviewing the future pope for the student paper 'varsity'. the interview also appeared in the irish times and the universe. in 2005, mccaffrey was a commentator for sky during the period spanning the death and funeral of pope john paul ii and the election of pope benedict xvi. in may 2019 pope francis bestowed a promotion on mccaffrey to knight grand cross of the order of saint gregory, the highest rank given to a layperson, carrying with it the title 'excellency'. he is a writer and photographer as well as a donor to various charitable causes, including the work of the order of the holy sepulchre of jerusalem, the terrence higgins trust and bethlehem university.