Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Seán Brady, the leader ofthe Catholic Church in Ireland.

Cardinal Sean Brady’s assistant and coadjutor in the diocese of Armagh has said the religious orders who ran Magdalene laundries need to “consider their responsibilities in a compassionate manner”.

Archbishop Eamon Martin yesterday warned that TDs who support the bill would be guilty of co-operating with evil.

The cleric set to become the next head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has pledged to work to heal the wounds of those who have lost trust in the institution.

Coadjutor Archbishop, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has been officially welcomed at a ceremony held at Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral this afternoon.