The Pope has said he was deeply disturbed and distressed by the findings of a sickening child sex abuse inquiry and plans to write a letter to the Catholics of Ireland.
After meeting Ireland's most senior Catholic clerics in Rome on Friday, Pope Benedict said he shared the outrage, betrayal and shame felt by so many of the faithful in the country.
In a statement issued by the Vatican, the Pontiff said he discussed the harrowing detail and cover-up of allegations against priests in the Dublin Archdiocese as detailed in the inquiry report with Cardinal Sean Brady and Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
"The Holy Father was deeply disturbed and distressed by its contents," it said.
"He wishes once more to express his profound regret at the actions of some members of the clergy who have betrayed their solemn promises to God, as well as the trust placed in them by the victims and their families, and by society at large."
The Murphy report detailed allegations against a sample 46 priests who served in Dublin between 1975 to 2004 and found several bishops, including the Bishop of Limerick, Donal Murray, who acted inexcusably in one case, mishandled complaints against priests.
Bishop Murray has also been in Rome all week and is understood to be to be preparing to resign.
Abuse support group One in Four said it was disappointed with the response of Pope Benedict and that his reaction was inadequate and likely to cause further distress and frustration to the thousands of Irish people who are survivors of clerical sex abuse.
Meanwhile, an investigation into the murder of young schoolgirl in Sligo has been reopened.
Bernadette Connolly was 10 years old when she was abducted and her mutilated body found in a bog four months later in August 1970.
The prime suspect was a local priest called Fr Columba, who was said to be protected by a wall of silence by his superiors at the time.
He died in 2001.
A garda spokesman confirmed Kieran Kenny, assistant commissioner for the northern region, will examine the investigation file in the case.
The surviving sisters of Bernadette called for her death to be re-examined in the wake of the Murphy report.
The family of the cleric, who was with the Passionist Order, are said to also want the investigation to prove his innocence.
© Press Association