Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy believes that last weekend’s visit of Pope Francis can act as a new beginning for the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Bishop Leahy said that the 36-hour visit balanced celebrating spirituality and faith while acknowledging the hurt caused by horrific sexual and physical abuse by clergy and religious in the Church.
“I had great hopes ahead of Pope Francis’ visit that this would be an important moment to ignite a renewal of our faith in Ireland. And I think that is what happened.”
Bishop Leahy acknowledged the numbers were “way back on 1979″ but said it was heartening to have so many Limerick people attend the World Meeting of Families event in the RDS, the Mass in the Phoenix Park and at Croke Park.
“We were very taken by the number of people who came to our stand in the RDS. There’s such goodwill for Limerick these days and this has certainly heightened with the All-Ireland win.”
However, mixed in with all the celebration were the very strong statements by Pope Francis about abuse in the Church.
“This consumed a huge amount of attention in the run up to and during Pope Francis’ visit. Lives were ruined by members of the clergy and religious, in institutions where love and peace are supposed to flourish. It not alone destroyed lives but also brought great shame on the Church. On top of that, there was the cover-up, which compounded the sins and the hurt” he said.
Bishop Leahy the Pope’s apology, his dedication in prayers to abuse victims over the course of the weekend, and in what has been reported from his private meeting with victims, left no doubt but as to his horror and anger over what was done and his determination to ensure those responsible are dealt with.
“No Pope has ever spoken with such anger and sorrow and that he did this in Ireland, a country where the Church has been brought to its knees by these horrific acts, was telling about how grave the acts were, the level they were at, his personal horror at them and deep concern for the victims.”
Bishop Leahy said it is time now to ensure the good work the Church does continues and make the Church a place that provides the sanctity and peace that it should.
“Pope Francis has inspired us. He has instilled us with new hope” he concluded.
