The Holy Father challenged the bishops to address the problems of the past with determination and resolve, and to face the present crisis with honesty and courage. So, how did the bishops respond?
Raphoe -- Bishop Boyce
''The meeting took place in a spirit of prayer and unity, providing guidance and encouragement in addressing the situation back home in Ireland... If we are to be open to renewal of the Catholic Church in Ireland, we have to be prepared to stand up to evil. To humbly admit our failures and beg forgiveness for our sins of neglect and mismanagement. We have to be open to conversion, purification and the guidance of God's spirit.
''We are determined that the mistakes of the past will never happen again. We have been encouraged by your tremendous support and partnership in meeting fully all civil and Church obligations in the area of safeguarding children. Only through close collaboration between priests, religious and lay faithful, can we restore confidence and credibility in this critical area.''
Tuam -- Archbishop Neary
''In his discussions with Irish bishops, Pope Benedict asked for the forgiveness of victims. The sense of pain, betrayal and anger expressed by victims was conveyed by the Bishops. Scandal and shame was acknowledged by all who participated.
''Central to discussions was the desire to accompany survivors in their pain and help them find hope. The contributing causes to what had taken place and the lessons to be learned for the future were underlined. If lay people, and particularly women, had been involved as they now are in addressing this issue the response would have been different. Poor past management of sexual abuse cases has contributed to the suffering experienced by victims.
''Close collaboration with laity and religious in parish and diocesan Pastoral Councils in the mission of the Church was seen to be absolutely necessary if Christ's gospel is to be effectively proclaimed.''
Galway -- Bishop Drennan
''What I took back from Rome can be summed up in three phrases: face the past with honesty, the present with courage, the future with hope.''
Waterford & Lismore -- Bishop Lee
''The bishops are determined that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated. I have co-operated fully with the statutory authorities and with the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland to ensure that our procedures concerning child sexual abuse are being completely implemented. Only through close collaboration between myself, the priests, religious and you, the lay faithful, can we continue to restore confidence and credibility in this critical area.
''I am recommending that in the diocese, during this Lenten season we revive the devotional practice of the Stations of the Cross. When we pray the Way of the Cross, we are reminded of the last painful journey of Jesus, the indignity, insults, injuries and rejection he endured. As you pray the Stations, I encourage you to remember in your prayers the survivors of abuse who have walked through life carrying the burden of traumatic experiences of the past. We pray that they can find healing and hope in the victory of Christ on Calvary because, by His holy cross, Christ has redeemed the World.''
Meath -- Bishop Smith
''Contrary to some reports, I found the meeting with Pope Benedict to be the most open, honest and engaged meeting that I have attended.
''Since the publication of its framework document in 1996, setting down procedures for the processing of complaints, the Catholic Church in Ireland has constantly evaluated and reviewed our national policy and procedures for safeguarding children. In this diocese, that has been done in complete cooperation with the HSE, seeking to ensure that best practice is in place. Lent invites us to repentance. Lent also has at its heart a deep message of hope, a hope rooted in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The Church must always take its teaching from the life and words of Christ, repenting when it has failed to do so.''
Kildare and Leighlin -- Bishop Moriarty
''The amount of time and attention given personally by Pope Benedict was very impressive. In my own contribution, I explained how my offer of resignation had come about and spoke about the need for unity and a deeper sharing of the mission 'that transcends the kind of clerical culture that led us here'.
''The Vatican press release should not be viewed at the 'last word'. Pope Benedict's pastoral letter which is expected in mid-March is the document to focus on. It is important to emphasise that this process is ongoing and more steps are to follow.
''The acceptance of my offer of resignation is proceeding. It is not a question of 'if' but 'when'. It will not happen immediately but should not go too far beyond Easter.
''I am seeking ideas about how priests and people might engage with the letter from the Holy Father and how together we might identify some tangible initiatives that might follow. This might involve forums at parish, deanery and diocesan level. As always, we keep the survivors in our prayers at this time and pray that this Lenten season may be a time of true renewal in the Irish Church.''
Clonfert -- Bishop Kirby
''I spoke on the responsibility of the Church in Rome. For years they did not appreciate the gravity of the problem. The obligation of secrecy, originally promoted for the best of reasons led to a culture of cover-up. The necessity to involve our own Irish state and report criminal activities was not emphasised. The failure to reply to correspondence gave a very bad impression.
''There was recognition that some of the Roman congregations were not helpful in the past. Canon Law is to be updated to take greater account of the problem of Clerical child sexual abuse. The obligation to report crimes to the secular state was recognised and will be encouraged.
''I was saddened that the survivors were disappointed with the outcome of the meeting. Perhaps their expectations ware too high. I got the clear impression that the Roman authorities paid great attention to our inputs... I think a good start has been made in addressing a serious problem in the Catholic Church not only in Ireland but also worldwide.''
Down and Connor -- Bishop Treanor
''The bishops returned time and again in their contributions to the horrific and tragic fact that this occurred within the Church. They recognised that mismanagement had occurred that there were cover-ups. They articulated the suffering, hurt and pain of victims. Bishops spoke of the action the Church is taking in Ireland to respond to child sexual abuse by clergy, religious and Church workers.... I pray that this Lent will be a time of blessings and renewal in our lives.''
Ferns -- Bishop Brennan
''Since our return home we have witnessed, once again, the pain of deeply wounded survivors, who feel great disappointment because the outcome of our meeting fell far short of their expectations. I would like to offer reassurance and comfort here. The visit to Pope Benedict by the bishops is only one part of an ongoing process, which has as its goal, the healing and consoling of survivors of clerical sexual abuse.
''We are living through a time of great trial as a result of grave scandals and how they have been mishandled in our Church community. The diocese of Ferns is firmly set on a path where reconciliation with survivors -- based on justice and respect -- remains priority.''
Dublin --- Archbishop Martin
At a Rite of Election Mass in Dublin's Pro Cathedral last weekend, Archbishop Martin said: ''Lent this year is a moment in which the whole Church in Dublin is called to do penance and seek reconciliation concerning how terrible facts of abuse of children were responded to. We have to reject any temptation of thinking that renewal of the Church can be achieved without recognising the hurt and damage that was done to innocent children and how that hurt was ignored. Lent is a time when we must all look at our responsibilities for the society and for the Church which allowed such a situation to take shape.''
Derry -- Bishop Hegarty
No statement or homily issued.
Clogher -- Bishop Duffy
No official statement was issued but Bishop Duffy spoke to the congregations at St Macartan's Cathedral in Monaghan at two masses over the weekend during which he related his experiences and notified the Faithful on the substance of what happened in Rome.
Kilmore -- Bishop O'Reilly
''Our meeting with Pope Benedict was very fruitful, although it is only the beginning of a process. There was straight talking, openness and dialogue. He was clearly pained and saddened by what he heard.
''There is not the slightest doubt that the Pope is devastated by the abuse that has taken place and has often expressed his sorrow about it. I am quite sure that his letter will address this in due course. The journey or renewal has only begun.''
Killala -- Bishop Flemming
''I spoke of the need for openness, transparency and accountability in all that we do in the Church. In particular, I noted that while confidentiality is very important in all walks to life, secrecy and cover up in the Church can never be allowed.
''Despite many of the negative comments in the media, I really felt at the end of the two days that we have a Pope who listens, is deeply concerned for the people of this country and, in particular, for the survivors of abuse. And despite all the difficulties we still have to face, I come home hopeful.''
Achonry -- Bishop Kelly
''Our visit to Rome was about repentance. About the acknowledgment of abject failure and downright sin in our lives, as bishops, as priests, as members of the people of God. It was about saying sorry and asking forgiveness again for the abject failure by us bishops to be good shepherds, to listen to the cry and the pain of little children. It was about the sin of self-preservation, and defensiveness, and putting our own 'good name', that of our colleagues and our Church before the safety and care of those 'little ones' in whose defence Jesus himself had been angry with his disciples when they were pushing them aside.
''It is the time for acknowledging sin and asking pardon and as your church leader, shepherd and bishop I do so today before you, on my own behalf and on behalf of all bishops and priests who have so failed and sinned.''
Armagh -- Cardinal Brady
No statement or homily issued.
Cork and Ross -- Bishop Buckley
''The bishops assured the Pope that, insofar as is humanly possible, the mistakes of the past will never happen again. I told the Pope that the current situation was our 'dark night of the soul', that great suffering was experienced by young people in Ireland and was compounded by inadequate responses.
''I told him that the Irish people were sad at what had happened and were shamed. I added that our suffering bore no comparison to the hurt and distress of the victims. It was our hope, I said, that the crimes of a small number would not invalidate the hard work of many priests and religious.
''I also assured Pope Benedict that great efforts were being made to make the church a safe place for children. We are learning from mistakes and are looking forward in hope and ensuring that mismanagement will never happen again.''
Killaloe -- Bishop Walsh
No statement or homily issued. Bishop Walsh travelled from Rome to Kenya where he visited a house building programme but spoke on local radio on his return on Sunday night.
Ardagh and Clonmacnoise -- Bishop O'Reilly
No statement or homily issued. Bishop O'Reilly returned from Rome late last week and instead read a letter from Pope Benedict on the destruction of St Mel's Cathedral in Longford.
Cashel and Emly -- Archbishop Clifford
No statement or homily issued.
Ossory -- Bishop Freeman
No statement or homily issued.
Elphin -- Bishop Jones
No statement of homily issued.
Kerry -- Bishop Murphy
No statement or homily issued. Bishop Murphy did not return from Rome until late last week.
Dromore -- Bishop McAreavey
''Pope Benedict was deeply affected by accounts of the impact of abuse on those who were abused, particularly on their faith. By his personal presence and his interest, he was, in effect, saying to us all: 'I will be with you on this journey; I will be with those who suffer; I will be with their families; you do not have to carry this cross alone'. I have no doubt that Pope Benedict will carry the pain and distress of the Catholic Church in Ireland in prayer this Lent. He is of course continuing work on the pastoral letter to Irish Catholics that will be sent before the end of Lent. I ask you to pray for him.''
