Pope Francis has said that the failure of Church authorities to adequately address clerical child sex abuse within the Church remains a “source of pain and shame” for Catholic leadership.
Speaking at a State reception in Dublin Castle the Pope said he “could not fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church charged with responsibility for their protection and education.”
"The failure of ecclesiastical authorities – bishops, religious superiors, priests and others – adequately to address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage - and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community,” he said.
“I myself share those sentiments.”
Pope Francis ahead of his speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, 25-08-2018. Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images
The Pontiff claimed that his predecessor, Pope Benedict had “spared no words” in recognising the gravity of the situation and demanding that “truly evangelical, just and effective” measures be taken in response to the abuse.
He said Pope Benedict’s “frank and decisive intervention” continues to serve as an incentive for church leadership to “remedy past mistakes” and to implement policies to “ensure that they do not happen again.”
“It is my hope that the gravity of the abuse scandals, which have cast light on the failings of many, will serve to emphasize the importance of the protection of minors and vulnerable adults on the part of society as a whole,” he said.
Pope Francis addressing those gathered in Dublin Castle #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/L1gGJ016k4
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) August 25, 2018
"Stain on our State"
Earlier, the Taoiseach called on Pope Francis to “use your office and influence" to bring about "justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors” of clerical abuse.
Leo Varadkar warned that there “can only be zero tolerance for those who abuse innocent children or who facilitate that abuse.”
Mr Varadkar acknowledged that both the Church and the Irish State have failed the most vulnerable members of society in the past.
The Pope and the Taoiseach arrive to Dublin Castle for their speeches #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/4g1wH9gOEz
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) August 25, 2018
The Taoiseach said there are "dark aspects to the Catholic Church’s history" and noted the “failures of both Church and State and wider society created a bitter and broken heritage for so many, leaving a legacy of pain and suffering.”
"It is a history of sorrow and shame,” he said.
“In place of Christian charity, forgiveness and compassion, far too often there was judgement, severity and cruelty, in particular, towards women and children and those on the margins.
“Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes, industrial schools, illegal adoptions and clerical child abuse are stains on our State, our society and also the Catholic Church.
“Wounds are still open and there is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadakar welcomes Pope Francis ahead of his speech in St Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle, 25-08-2018. Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images
He called on Pope Francis to “use your office and influence to ensure this is done here in Ireland and across the World.”
“In recent weeks, we have all listened to heart-breaking stories from Pennsylvania of brutal crimes perpetrated by people within the Catholic Church, and then obscured to protect the institution at the expense of innocent victims,” he said.
“It is a story all too tragically familiar here in Ireland.
“There can only be zero tolerance for those who abuse innocent children or who facilitate that abuse.
“We must now ensure that from words flow actions.”
Clerical abuse
The eyes of the world have been on the visit amid speculation over whether the Pope would talk publicly about the physical and sexual abuse of children and others within the Church.
He will meet with survivors of abuse during his 36 hours in Ireland – however, it is not known where or when that will happen.
Mr Varadkar spoke privately with the Pope ahead of his speech.
Earlier this week he pledged to raise the issue of abuse within the Church when the two men spoke privately during the ten-minute meeting.
The words of @pontifex written in the book at Áras an Uachtaráin #popeInIreland pic.twitter.com/oSkRSNEVFV
— WMOF2018 (@WMOF2018) August 25, 2018
During the reception, the Pope presented the Taoiseach with a Papal medallion and signed the Dublin Castle visitors book.
The speeches are being delivered to a crowd made up of members of government, the Oireachtas, the Judiciary and Diplomats from over 50 countries.
Members of Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party, the SDLP and UUP from the north will be present - as well as the UK Secretary of State for Norther Ireland.
#PopeFrancis arrives at Aras an Uachtarain #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/DWluoWVmBW
— Nicole Gernon (@nicole_gernon) August 25, 2018
'Mission Impossible
It is 39 years since the last papal visit to Ireland and the ground beneath the Church has shifted since Pope John Paul II memorably kissed the tarmac on his arrival at the airport.
Yesterday, the primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin said addressing the legacy of child abuse within the Catholic Church would be ‘mission impossible’ for Pope Francis alone.
He said the issue would not disappear because of Francis' visit to Ireland this weekend "and nor should it."
He added: "If you speak to survivors, they're carrying a trauma and they will carry it with them for the rest of their lives.
"We have no right to think that we can leave it behind us."
Pope Francis arriving at Dublin Castle today, 25-08-2018. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews
He insisted the issue of abuse by priests was not being ignored by the Pontiff – and called on the Bishops of Ireland to “add our voices to the voices” to those of abuse survivors so that the Church can begin taking steps to address the issue.
“I think the abuse survivors want more than simply words,” he said.
“They want to know that he is committed to the change in the structures and whatever might have facilitated abuse to happen or indeed not to be dealt with properly.”
I’ll be on @cnni in 15-20 mins to talk about #popeinireland and how we, as a people, are coming together to #Stand4Truth pic.twitter.com/uVt13wdaTV
— Colm O'Gorman (@Colmogorman) August 25, 2018
Protest
Meanwhile, organisers of a solidarity march for victims of clerical abuse say they expect thousands of people to take part.
The Stand4Truth march will assemble at 2.30pm on Sunday August 26th at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square in Dublin.
Among those attending the march are singers Hozier, Mary Black and Liam O'Maonlai who will perform on stage.
It will also feature spoken word performances by theatre-maker Grace Dyas, poet Sarah Clancy and activist Colm O’Gorman.
The crowd will then walk silently to Sean McDermott Street to the last remaining Magdalene Laundry.
.@Pontifex steps off the plane @DublinAirport pic.twitter.com/Ab2GkVICS0
— Paul Quinn (@PaulQuinnNews) August 25, 2018
Cover-up
Amnesty International Ireland director Colm O'Gorman has been speaking about the last Papal visit to Ireland over recent days.
It is a period of time he remembers for all the wrong reasons.
"And about a year and a half after the Pope visited Ireland for the first time, I was raped by a Roman Catholic priest,” he said.
"The priest had been ordained four months before the Pope's arrival in Ireland, despite the fact that the Catholic Church knew he had sexually assaulted children.”
Apology
Last week, Pope Francis has issued an unprecedented apology to victims, but critics warned his letter ignored the role of the Vatican in covering up abuse.
"How could this Pope or any other Pope hold bishops to account for doing what it directed them to do?" asked Mr O'Gorman.
"The Vatican directed the cover up. It required the cover up. The Vatican itself needs to be held to account," he insisted.
