Pope Benedict has said the Catholic Church had been shaken "in an appalling way" by the revelation of sins committed by clergy members "against people entrusted to their care".

Road users are being advised that there will be significant traffic restrictions around Croke Park in Dublin today for the closing ceremony of the Eucharistic Congress.

More than 80,000 pilgrims are due to attend the official closing ceremony of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Croke Park tomorrow.

A survivor of institutional abuse has criticised the Pope's envoy for meeting victims in secret during a pilgrimage.

The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, is defending the attendance at the opening ceremony of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.

Thousands of people are set to attend day two of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin today, which began yesterday with lower than expected attendance and amid renewed calls for the resignation of Cardinal Seán Brady.

The 50th International Eucharistic Congress gets underway in Dublin today.

The "spiritual Olympics" of the Catholic Church will be staged in Ireland next week, attracting thousands of pilgrims from around the world.

The Priests will be headline performers at the climax of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress.

Using economics to justify closing our embassy to the Holy See prompted one Dublin mother to say stop, writes Mary E Fitzgibbon

WHILE the question of a papal visit to Ireland in June next year remains open, no plans have been made, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said yesterday.

WHEN Pope John Paul II visited Ireland in the middle of autumn 31 years ago the welcome was absolute, the joy considerable and genuine.

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland Sean Brady apologised today over revelations that he failed to alert gardaí about the abuse of two children by notorious paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.

THE statement from Pope Benedict that a lack of respect for the human person and a weakening of faith contributed to the abuse of children is an interesting explanation for the greatest act of evil ever inflicted on the Irish people.

SOCIETY must not neglect its poor and weaker members just because there is a recession, the Irish Catholic Bishops said.

Dublin is to host the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI announced today.