At the opening services of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress on Sunday, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin took time to not only welcome those in attendance, but to remember all those who have suffered abuse through the Church.

TheJournal.ie reports on Archbishop Martin’s opening remarks at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, which is being hosted at the RDS in Dublin this year. The event is hosted every four years, but hasn’t been in Ireland since 1932. 20,000 people were in attendance on Sunday to hear Archbishop Martin speak at the opening service.

Archbishop Martin asked people during his opening speech to remember “all those who suffered abuse and who still today bear the mark of that abuse.” He added that the Church had seen “sinful and criminal abuse and neglect of those weakest in our society.”

“In a spirit of repentance, let us remember each of them in the silence of our hearts,” said Archbishop Martin.

Archbishop Martin said the Church in Ireland is working toward renewal, but said that it will be a “lengthy journey.”

The remainder of Archbishop Martin’s speech focused on the theme for this 50th IEC, which is ‘rejoicing in the Eucharist.’ He welcomed the pilgrims who travelled from all around the world to take part in the event, and prayed for a renewal in “priestly life and in religious life.”