There is a risk people can become desensitised to the depth of this crisis and we must always remember behind each single number is a child, a man or a woman who is homeless and who is suffering.

We Christians believe and know that Christ’s resurrection is the true hope of the world, the hope that does not disappoint.

There are 70,000 more Irish children living in poverty than there were in 2008 and more than one in ten of our children experience persistent poverty.

Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland will inject new energy into the process of regenerating the Church, which will be beneficial for the faithful but will also prompt those who are disillusioned to look again and see it as the Church of mercy and caring that Pope Francis wants it to be.