Pope Francis has received Ireland’s new ambassador to the Holy See, ending a three year hiatus in which the ambassador was based in Dublin.
In 2011, the Irish government closed its Vatican embassy after Prime Minister Enda Kenny accused the Holy See of deliberately thwarting a probe into sex abuse allegations.
The Vatican had strongly rejected the claim.
Among the topics the new ambassador Emma Madigan discussed with Pope Francis were Northern Ireland and the plight of religious minorities worldwide.
The ambassador said the tone of the conversation was informal and very relaxed.