Pope summons Irish bishops over child abuse scandal

The February 15-16 meeting will address the aftermath of revelations that Church authorities covered up for paedophile priests in the mainly Catholic country for some three decades.

The pope already met on December 11 with Ireland's two most senior Roman Catholic churchmen, primate of all Ireland Cardinal Sean Brady and Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, following a shock government report on the scandal in the Dublin archdiocese, Ireland's biggest.

The pope said then he shared "the outrage, betrayal and shame felt by so many of the faithful in Ireland (over) these heinous crimes" catalogued in the report issued in late November.

One priest admitted to sexually abusing over 100 children, while another accepted that he had abused on a fortnightly basis over 25 years.

Four bishops have so far resigned following the report, which revealed that church leaders did not report abuse to police as part of a culture of secrecy and a determination to avoid damaging the reputation and assets of the church.

The scandal caused deep pain and outrage in Ireland and sparked a crisis of confidence in church leadership.