Pope Francis has prayed for forgiveness for the physical, mental and sexual abuse carried out by members the Catholic Church with roles of responsibility.
At the outset of the Papal mass in the Phoenix Park today, the Pontiff noted that he last night met with eight survivors who suffered abuse of power, of conscience and also sexual abuse by members of the clergy.
He said he was now placing “before the mercy of the lord these crimes and to ask forgiveness for them.”
He also asked for special pardon for the abuses “committed in various types of institutions” run by representatives of the Church.
Pope Francis arrived at the Phoenix Park just after 2:30pm - where thousands of people were waiting to watch him celebrate the special mass this afternoon.
Big crowds but lots of gaps too. Hundreds of thousands but likely not half a million #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/ci4aZBDrS3
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) August 26, 2018
The ceremony will bring his two-day visit to Ireland to a close.
Half a million people are making their way into the Phoenix Park for the closing mass by Pope Francis this afternoon #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/gd5rOJQdhg
— Stephen Murphy (@Stephen_Murphy5) August 26, 2018
Earlier at a ceremony at Knock Shrine, the Pontiff said he had prayed for forgiveness for the physical and sexual abuse of children carried out by members of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Describing clerical abuse as an “open wound” the Pontiff called for "firm and decisive" action to secure "truth and justice" for survivors.
Half a million people were expected to attend the Phoenix Park mass – however it remains unclear if the wet weather dampened spirits.
Tens of thousands of people making their way into Phoenix ahead of the Pope’s final mass #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/hUV5MGGJWl
— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) August 26, 2018
