The pope was accompanied by the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo as he pulled up to the tarmac at Dublin Airport in a blue Skoda after saying mass in Phoenix Park.
Pope Francis was greeted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and other dignitaries on the apron of the runway before his departure.
Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin and Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin were among those in attendance.
The pontiff smiled and shook hands with many people before ascending the steps to reach Aer Lingus’ St Aidan aircraft.
At the door, the pontiff paused, turned around, waved and blessed those who had come to say goodbye to him before heading inside.
It marked the culmination of a whirlwind visit to Ireland by the pontiff.
As the A321 jet pushed back from the runway, the papal flag and the tricolour were flown from the cockpit.
Under the command of Captain Steve Kelly, it took off shortly before 7pm on Sunday carrying more than 120 people.
Shortly after the pope took off, Mr Varadkar tweeted that he welcomed Pope Francis’s call for firm and decisive action when it came to addressing clerical sexual abuse.
The Taoiseach wrote: “We welcome Pope Francis’s call for firm and decisive action and for forgiveness.
“We now ask that from words flow actions.
“We thank Pope Francis for his visit…
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