Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland provided ‘powerful moment’ for abuse survivors

Pope Francis took part in the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland in 2018 (Brian Lawless/PA)

The visit of Pope Francis to Ireland seven years ago was said to have offered a “powerful” opportunity for survivors of clerical abuse to gather in solidarity and highlight scandals.

Despite being praised for an “important” letter to US bishops in February which called on them to resist “narratives that discriminate” against refugees, the Pope’s address given in Dublin on clerical abuse scandals was called “disappointing” by one abuse survivor.