Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has said the Papal visit later this year will have to include a discussion on abuse committed by officials in the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis is to visit Ireland next month.
The Pontiff’s Irish tour takes place in August with three events open to the public: World Meeting of Families 2018 at Croke Park on August 25, a Knock shrine event in Co. Mayo on the morning of August 26, and a closing mass at Phoenix Park later that day.
Speaking to RTÉ, Archbishop Martin said it was necessary for Pope Francis to discuss it as part of the Church's history but as part of the present because the wounds of survivors are there and new wounds are still emerging.
Archbishop Martin added that controversies such as the Magdalene Laundries, the Mother and Baby homes and a whole series of other places where abuse emerged and is emerging showed a sad dimension of the way the Church developed and could not be ignored.
In response to the Papal visit, thousands of people have joined a 'Say Nope To The Pope' movement whereby protesters reserved tickets to hurt numbers in attendance for the Pope's visits.
