Dioceses around the country will observe the annual 'Day of Prayer for Survivors of Abuse' tomorrow to coincide with the first Friday of Lent.
The day of prayer was initiated by Pope Francis and has been marked in Irish dioceses since 2017.
The 'Candles of Atonement' will be lit in diocesan cathedrals and churches nationwide, and will burn during mass and other liturgies during Lent.
The tradition of lighting the Candle of Atonement was inspired by the Penitential Rite that Pope Francis composed and prayed at the final mass in the Phoenix Park during his visit to Ireland in 2018.
At that mass, the Pope asked for forgiveness on behalf of the Catholic Church.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, the number of requests for advice from the National Board for Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Ireland increased from 282 to 306.
The National Board was established to provide advice, services and assistance to the Catholic Church regarding the safeguarding of children on the island of Ireland.