Meetings 'reflected seriousness of Ryan report'

Meetings between the Catholic church hierarchy and the Pope in the Vatican reflected the seriousness of the Ryan report, the church said today.

Pope Benedict XVI held a 45-minute gathering yesterday with senior religious leaders which addressed the child abuse scandal.

Cardinal Sean Brady and Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin spent the week with senior officials from the Vatican’s Curia (central government body).

A spokesman said: “The speed of the way these meetings were arranged through the week, including with the Holy Father, reflected the seriousness of the situation and Cardinal Brady was anxious to have these meetings on behalf of the Catholic faithful and church in Ireland.

“Next week the summer general meeting of the 33 bishops of Ireland takes place in Maynooth and it will be discussed there.”

Pope Benedict is understood to have listened intently to what the Irish leaders told him and was distressed.

Earlier this week the two prelates discussed the Child Abuse Commission report with seven prefect cardinals who lead separate Vatican departments.

Yesterday the two archbishops also thanked Pope Benedict for condemning as abominable acts of terrorism the murders last March by dissidents of a policeman and two soldiers in the North.

They discussed the Eucharistic Conference involving the global church community planned for Dublin in three years’ time. It was last in Dublin in 1932.

Catholic education was also on the agenda.

More details will be given to bishops on Monday.