Published Tuesday, 09 June 2009
Cardinal Sean Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin revealed the Pontiff was visibly upset by revelations of sexual, physical and emotional torture of children uncovered by the Ryan inquiry.
In a Vatican meeting with the clergymen last Friday, Pope Benedict reiterated his call for the church hierarchy to make amends to the thousands of children who suffered at the hands of abusive priests, brothers and nuns.
"He (the Pope) was very visibly upset to hear of some of the things that are told in the Ryan report and how the children had suffered from the very opposite of the expression of a love of God," the Archbishop said.
Cardinal Brady and Archbishop Martin briefed the country's bishops in Maynooth on the 45 minute meeting with the Pontiff and on separate talks with seven Cardinals in the Holy See last week.
The two clergymen outlined to the Catholic leaders the devastating findings of the report along with the subsequent fall-out and criticisms of 18 religious orders.
Cardinal Brady said: "He (the Pope) listened very carefully, very attentively, very sympathetically to what we had to say and he said in reply that this was a time for deep examination of life here in Ireland and the church."
The Cardinal, Primate of All-Ireland, said the Pope also discussed the steps needed to respond to the harrowing catalogue of abuse.
"Establish what is the truth of what happened - and the Ryan report is an important part of that - to ensure that justice is done for all; and put in place the measures that will prevent these events ever happening again with a view to healing - healing the hurt suffered by survivors," the Cardinal said.
On Wednesday survivors of abusive church-run institutions will march in silence on Leinster House where representatives of 18 disgraced religious orders named in the Ryan inquiry have been invited to accept a petition ahead of a wreath-laying ceremony.
A debate on Judge Sean Ryan's report is expected to be heard in the Dail on Thursday.