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

After meeting privately with abuse victims on Saturday on the first papal visit to Ireland in almost four decades, Francis apologized 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, recognizing 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 apologize 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.