Pope Francis in Ireland: From Mass and Asking for Forgiveness to Massive Protests and Silence on Claims Pope Covered the Abuses (Pictures)
Pope Francis visited Ireland and gave an unplanned speech on abuse to hundreds of thousands of faithful in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. During his visit, he met survivors of abuse in the country and asked for forgiveness.
Keep on reading Nexter.org to know more about the visit.
‘No more apologies’
Before celebrating Mass in a Dublin park, Pope Francis solemnly asked forgiveness for the thousands of cases of sexual and physical abuse perpetrated by Catholics in Ireland.
“We ask forgiveness for the abuse in Ireland, abuse of power and of conscience, sexual abuse” by clergy and religious, he said Aug. 26. “In a special way, we ask forgiveness for all the abuse committed in the different institutions run by religious men and religious women and other members of the church.”
“I’m sure the Pope was sincere in his apology, but it needs to be followed up by action,” said Jenny Moore-Mcgowan, 47, holding a sign that read: “Apologies are not enough.”
In a litany of recognition and prayers for the Lord’s mercy, Pope Francis formally asked forgiveness for the forced labor that even children were forced to perform in church institutions.
However, Pope Francis has declined to comment on a claim he personally ignored sexual abuse allegations against a senior clergyman, after the visit.
Pope Francis has declined to comment on a claim he personally ignored sexual abuse allegations against a senior clergyman, after a visit to Ireland dominated by Church scandals.
Stand For Truth
Source: Aaron Chown/PA
As the Pope said Mass elsewhere in the city, thousands of people turned out at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin for the Stand For Truth protest rally. The event was held to remember those who were the victims of clerical abuse and those who died in church-run institutions such as the Magdelene Laundries.
About 5,000 people, including women’s rights groups, LGBTQ+ organizations, and abuse survivors, came out to stand in solidarity with those who have suffered under Catholic-run institutions in Ireland.
The banners at a protest rally in the heart of Dublin rebuffed that request with short, sharp slogans.
“Hey Pope Francis you’re outta chances”, “The Pope is a dope”, “The Pope is protecting paedophiles”, “Religion is fine, rape is not”, “Repeal the church”, and, perhaps most cuttingly: “The church way worse than the Brits.”
The pope’s requests for forgiveness in his Phoenix Park sermon, including for members of the church hierarchy who covered up “painful situations”, were far too little and too late for the crowd who had gathered at the garden dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives for Irish freedom.
Performers included the Irish musician Hozier, who electrified the rally with a rendition of his song Take Me to Church. Many joined in the lyrics: “I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies, I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife.”
Rally organizers billed it as a show of solidarity with victims and distributed “Truth, Justice, Love” banners.
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