Taoiseach says Pope agrees Church must ‘take ownership’ of abuse redress in Ireland

Mr Martin said: "I asked that every effort would be made to get the religious orders to engage proactively on the matter of redress.

"I did point out that the Government has established the Commission of Inquiry into day schools and boarding schools, and that some orders, one or two orders, have come forward, but a lot of orders haven't - that assets are being sold, and that we want those assets allocated, and revenues from them to redress, and that the government would continue its engagement with the religious orders.

He added: "I think the sense is here that people do need to take ownership of this in terms of religious orders and in terms of bishops back in Ireland of this issue."

Pressed on whether the Pope had agreed to speak directly to religious orders on the matter, Mr Martin said: "I don't want to be putting words into the Pope's mouth, but very clearly he's of a disposition that the Church has to take ownership of this, and we discussed the issue of trauma itself."

Speaking after the meeting, which lasted around 30 minutes, the Taoiseach added: "He's very aware of, that this is an enduring sort of programme of work that doesn't begin with a Commission of Inquiry or acknowledgement of guilt, but that has to be worked on constantly and on a continuing basis.

"I think he understands this area, and the nature of it, and I explained myself that I was involved in establishing the first Commission of Inquiry into the industrial schools when I was a minister for education, and how many years later one would meet people who were victims and survivors, and the trauma stays with people. So he was very aware and conscious of that, and I think his response was in the affirmative."

Mr Martin, who was joined by his wife Mary at the Vatican, said he had also extended an invitation for the Pope to visit Ireland.

"He's a very busy schedule. I did indicate he's welcome to Ireland, and I said that to him. We would appreciate a visit."

Mr Martin said the pair also discussed the situation in the Middle East, “in terms of what will it take to get a proper peace process in place, and particularly in terms of the humanitarian situation facing the people of Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon”.