It’s Netflix and Zell
POPE Francis landed in Ireland yesterday for a historic visit to the country.
The Pope spoke of his pain and shame at the failure of church authorities to tackle the “grave scandal” of clerical abuse in Ireland.
Speaking at Dublin Castle, the 81-year-old said: “With regard to the most vulnerable, I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with responsibility for their protection and education.
“The failure of ecclesiastical authorities, bishops, religious superiors, priests and others, adequately to address these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments.”
The Pope is expected to meet a number of abuse victims in private.
The historic trip to
Dublin and Co.
Mayo faced controversy with many protests across the country.
The Irish PM,
Leo Varadkar, urged the Pope to “listen to the victims” and called for a new relationship between the church and state in which religion is no longer at the centre of society.
In his speech, Mr Varadkar highlighted the “dark aspects” of the Catholic church’s history.
He said: “The failures of both church and state, and wider society, created a bitter and broken heritage for so many, leaving a legacy of pain and suffering. It is a history of sorrow and shame. Wounds are still open and there is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors.”
President Michael D Higgins also told the head of the Catholic Church of the anger felt by those in Ireland who were abused as children by Catholic clerics while the pontiff visited him at his official home in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
In a statement issued after the meeting, a spokesman said Mr Higgins also told Pope Francis of the “anger which had been conveyed to him at what was perceived to be the impunity enjoyed by those who had the responsibility of bringing such abuses for action by the appropriate authorities and have not done so”.
Around 100,000 lined the streets of Dublin city centre as the Pope passed through in his Popemobile.
Last night, he joined 80,000 pilgrims at a music festival with performances from Nathan Carter and Daniel O’Donnell in Croke Park stadium.
Protesters called for action at the highest levels of the Catholic church to deal with the abuse. BRIDGET Jones star Renee Zellweger is taking on her first major television role for almost 25 years.
The Oscar winner has signed to Netflix’s drama What/If, which starts filming this year.
She will play Ann in the thriller which looks at the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people do unacceptable things.
Renee’s last TV drama was Shake, Rattle And Rock! in 1994.
She is the latest in a string of film stars to move into TV, including Sharp Objects actor Amy Adams.