Pope Francis arrived Saturday in Ireland on the first papal visit to the majority Roman Catholic nation in almost 40 years amid one of the worst sexual abuse scandals the church has yet faced.

The 81-year-old pontiff met with President Michael Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at the start of his 32-hour visit, which comes just a few days after the release of a Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing decades of clerical pedophilia and coverups.

Hundreds of thousands of people braved wet and windy weather to attend Pope Francis' Mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin on Sunday, while thousands more gathered in the city center for protests against clerical sexual abuse amid fresh reports that the Pontiff ignored allegations stretching back years.

Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office in Dublin before marching to the Garden of Remembrance during the Pope's visit to Ireland on Sunday.
Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office in Dublin before marching to the Garden of Remembrance during the Pope's visit to Ireland on Sunday.
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Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland, on Sunday.
Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland, on Sunday.
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An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families on Sunday.
An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families on Sunday.
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An aide adjusts Pope Francis' cape as he speaks at the Knock Shrine in Knock, Ireland, on Sunday.
An aide adjusts Pope Francis' cape as he speaks at the Knock Shrine in Knock, Ireland, on Sunday.
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People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis in front of the Knock Shrine on Sunday.
People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis in front of the Knock Shrine on Sunday.
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Pope Francis passes by a banner of a protester as he leaves St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin on Saturday. The Pope spoke of his shame over the "appalling crimes" of historic child abuse in the Catholic Church and said outrage was justified. However, he failed to specifically mention the current scandal over a US grand jury report documenting at least 1,000 cases of clerical pedophilia.
Pope Francis passes by a banner of a protester as he leaves St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin on Saturday. The Pope spoke of his shame over the "appalling crimes" of historic child abuse in the Catholic Church and said outrage was justified. However, he failed to specifically mention the current scandal over a US grand jury report documenting at least 1,000 cases of clerical pedophilia.
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Pope Francis prays at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin on Saturday.
Pope Francis prays at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin on Saturday.
Stefano Rellandini/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on College Green in Dublin on Saturday.
Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on College Green in Dublin on Saturday.
Joe Giddens/PA/AP
Nuns wait for Pope Francis to arrive for the Festival of Families on Saturday.
Nuns wait for Pope Francis to arrive for the Festival of Families on Saturday.
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Pope Francis leaves St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin after meeting recently married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland.
Pope Francis leaves St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin after meeting recently married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland.
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Riverdance performs at the Festival of Families.
Riverdance performs at the Festival of Families.
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Speaking in a hall in Dublin Castle on Saturday, <a target="_blank">Pope Francis addresses the sexual abuse scandal</a> within the Catholic Church, saying, "the failure of ecclesiastical authorities -- bishops, religious superiors, priests and others -- adequately to address these appalling crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments."
Speaking in a hall in Dublin Castle on Saturday, Pope Francis addresses the sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church, saying, "the failure of ecclesiastical authorities -- bishops, religious superiors, priests and others -- adequately to address these appalling crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments."
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A journalist reacts inside the media center as Pope Francis arrives at Dublin Airport on Saturday.
A journalist reacts inside the media center as Pope Francis arrives at Dublin Airport on Saturday.
Yui Mok/PA/AP
The Pope disembarks from the aircraft as he arrives in Dublin on Saturday.
The Pope disembarks from the aircraft as he arrives in Dublin on Saturday.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Priests await the arrival of Pope Francis at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral.
Priests await the arrival of Pope Francis at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral.
Aaron Chown/AP
Protesters tie baby shoes to a post, signifying the children who died in mother and baby homes in Ireland, during a protest in Dublin ahead of the start of the Pope's visit to Ireland.
Protesters tie baby shoes to a post, signifying the children who died in mother and baby homes in Ireland, during a protest in Dublin ahead of the start of the Pope's visit to Ireland.
Aaron Chown/AP
The Pope is greeted by Archbishop Eamon Martin as he arrives at Dublin Airport on Saturday.
The Pope is greeted by Archbishop Eamon Martin as he arrives at Dublin Airport on Saturday.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Pope Francis is flanked by Irish President Michael Higgins upon his arrival at the presidential residence in Dublin on Saturday.
Pope Francis is flanked by Irish President Michael Higgins upon his arrival at the presidential residence in Dublin on Saturday.
Peter Morrison/AP
Members of the armed forces arrive before the meeting between the Pope and Irish President Michael Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain on Saturday.
Members of the armed forces arrive before the meeting between the Pope and Irish President Michael Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain on Saturday.
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A crowd reacts to Pope Francis' arrival for the Festival of Families.
A crowd reacts to Pope Francis' arrival for the Festival of Families.
David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile/Getty Images
Pope Francis waves to the crowd at Dublin Airport on Saturday.
Pope Francis waves to the crowd at Dublin Airport on Saturday.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Rainbow flags and blue ribbons are tied to Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin to remember the victims of Catholic Church clerical sex abuse.
Rainbow flags and blue ribbons are tied to Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin to remember the victims of Catholic Church clerical sex abuse.
Aaron Chown/AP