The Vatican has recalled its special envoy in Ireland after a damning report on the Catholic Church's handling of child abuse by priests.
Vatican radio has reported that Papal Nuncio Giuseppe Leanza is being called back to Rome to discuss the impact of the recent Cloyne Report.It showed how allegations of sex abuse by priests in Cork had been covered up.
The report led to angry condemnation of the Vatican by Prime Minister Enda Kenny in the Irish Parliament.
In a blistering attack, Mr Kenny accused the Church of putting its reputation ahead of child rape victims.
He told the Irish parliament that the report into how allegations of sex abuse by priests in Cork had been covered up showed change was urgently needed.
"The rape and torture of children were downplayed or 'managed' to uphold instead the primacy of the institution, its power, standing and 'reputation'," the taoiseach said last Wednesday.
At the weekend, the prime minster said he had received thousands of messages of support from around the world - many were from the clergy, he said.
He said this reflected the way people felt about the Catholic Church's role on clerical child abuse.He told an audience at an annual cultural event in County Donegal at the weekend that the messages showed how people felt.
Mr Kenny said he was "astounded" at the number of clergy who contacted him after his speech on the Cloyne Report.
"The fact that I have had thousands of messages from around the world speaks for itself about the impact and the way people feel," he said.
"The numbers of members of the clergy who have been in touch in the last few days to say it is about time somebody spoke out about these matters in a situation like you are, has astounded me."
Mr Kenny received a standing ovation after he finished delivering the annual lecture at the opening session of the summer school.
A statement is expected on the Vatican website at midday.
@'BBC"
