The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, and the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin have met Pope Benedict in Rome today to update him about the fallout from the Ryan report on institutions run by religious orders.
Pope Benedict, who apologised for sexual abuse by clergy during a visit to Australia last year and has not commented publicly on the revelations in the report which said sexual abuse was endemic in boys homes and children lived in daily terror of being beaten.
The report published last month has sparked public outrage and heard calls for an increased financial contribution from the 18 religious orders named in it to compensate victims.
The orders, including the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy, said yesterday they would provide more financial compensation to thousands of victims and would submit to an independent audit of their assets.
A controversial 2002 indemnity deal capped the orders' contribution to the Redress Board at €128 million, compared with a total bill that is expected to top €1 billion.
Cardinal Brady and Dr Martin have been in Rome all week, where they have held a series of meetings with Vatican departments on a range of issues.