Pope Francis may visit Ireland in 2018 after announcing the world’s largest gathering of Catholic families is to be held in Dublin.

POPE Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Philadelphia archbishop Cardinal Justin Rigali yesterday, sending him into retirement as the archdiocese faces accusations that it covered up a long-running priest sex abuse scandal.

US cardinal Justin Rigali, under pressure over his handling of a long-running priest sex-abuse scandal, is expected to step down after eight tumultuous years leading the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.