Pope begs forgiveness for 'state of shame' inflicted on Ireland

Pope Francis on Sunday begged forgiveness for the multitude of abuses suffered by victims in Ireland at the hand of the church over decades as he concluded a tour of the once deeply Catholic country watched by parishioners and protesters.

After meeting privately with abuse victims on Saturday on the first papal visit to Ireland in almost four decades, Francis apologised to mothers estranged from their children in church-run homes, children abused by priests and those exploited in religious schools, calling it a "state of shame."

"To survivors of abuse of power, conscience and sexual abuse, recognising what they have told me, I would like to put these crimes before the mercy of the Lord and ask forgiveness for them," Francis told a mass attended by more than 100,000 people at Dublin's Phoenix Park.

"We apologise for some members of the hierarchy who did not take care of these painful situations and kept silent."

Years of sexual abuse scandals have shattered the credibility of the Church which four decades ago dominated Irish society. In the past three years, Irish voters have approved abortion and gay marriage in referendums, defying the Vatican.

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