Pope's visit 'likely to awaken great distress and upset for people' impacted by clerical sex abuse warns counselling service

A HSE funded counselling service advises that it is available to 'abuse survivors distressed during the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland'.

Connect Service Director Marie Percival said: “There is a very high level of public focus on the Pope’s visit, including issues around clerical sexual abuse. The visit is likely to awaken great distress and upset for people who have been affected and the Connect service is available to support them.”

The Vatican has said Pope Francis will meet victims of clerical sexual abuse during his trip to Ireland this weekend.

The pope is visiting Ireland on 25 and 26 August to attend the Catholic World Meeting of Families in Dublin and will also visit Knock Shrine in Co Mayo.

Connect is available to provide free telephone-based counselling to abuse survivors distressed during the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland.

 Connect provides professional telephone-based counselling and support to abuse survivors at freephone 1800 477 477 from the Republic of Ireland. Opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday 6-10pm.

 Further information at www.connectcounselling.ie.