Pope Francis has said that Irish people have every right to be outraged at the Catholic Church and its senior figures given the “repellent crimes” that were shamefully inflicted on young people.
Speaking at Dublin Castle on the first day of his visit, the Pope told the Irish public that he fully feels pain and shame when it comes to the crimes committed by the church.
The Pope who is in Dublin, to attend the World Meeting of Families also admitted that the Catholic Church had a number of failures when it came to tackling repeated clerical abuse.
Addressing those in St Patrick’s Hall Pope Francis said that he couldn’t fail to acknowledge the historic abuse by senior figures within the church who were given the responsibility to protect and educate those who ultimately became victims of their abuse.
The Pope who also spoke of his shame in regards to the church’s failure to address the “repellent crimes”, said the Irish people and indeed those around the world have the right to be outraged at the crimes which still brings great pain and shame to the church.
Pope also acknowledged Irish women by saying they endured particularly difficult circumstances in the past.
He added the church in Ireland had played a role in child welfare that could not be obscured.