PHOENIX PARK
of abuse the compassion and the seeking of justice and truth through concrete actions.” Thomas Hollis, 57, and his wife Sarah, 54, had come from Edinburgh to see the Pope. Thomas said: “We knew today would be a joyful occasion. Miguel Jiminez, 26, of Barcelona, also came to hear the Mass. He said: “Francis is a good and humble man. He will do all he can to end the scandal of abuse but there are very powerful forces in the Vatican who have spent decades covering it up. “But today is a day of celebration of our faith – not the flawed institutions of the Church.”
Earlier, after leaving the site in Knock where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to 15 villagers in 1879, Francis tweeted from his @Pontifex account, asking all Christians to help stop future crimes.
On Saturday, he had a 90-minute meeting with six abuse survivors and met two adoptees torn from single mothers as babies in cruel homes.
The mums were warned they could never trace their children as it would be “a mortal sin”.
The Pope promised he would tell all those unmarried mothers – many of whom were at the Mass – that it was not and he kept his word.
Survivors said Francis was visibly shocked by their stories and surprised them by calling those who cover up sex abuse “sh**s”.
One revealed: “The Pope said the cover-up of abuse in the Vatican was ‘caca’. The translator interpreted it as ‘filth you would see in the toilet’.”
Another of the group, Clodagh Malone, said: “We were delighted with the meeting. Everybody got to say their bit. He listened. He answered. He was very genuine. He recognised that we have suffered as survivors.”
Despite the Pope’s plea for