During this month’s synod on the family, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin will speak to Pope Francis about a possible papal visit to Ireland in 2018.
Speculation is growing about a papal visit after it was announced that the next World Meeting of Families would be in Dublin in 2018.
Archbishop Martin said Francis is aware of the damage done to the Irish church by the sex abuse scandal.
The Pope is also aware of the changing nature of Irish society, the archbishop said.
“He is determined, I think, to see the next World Meeting of Families through and to be in Ireland, but it’s too early to say that yet.”