The Most Rev Justin Welby said that while people may be forgiven, this would not stop them from facing the consequences of their actions.

Giving evidence at the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, he explained that forgiveness is a very complex issue.

But he added: “The Bible is utterly, brutally blunt about the difference between forgiveness and the consequences of sin.”

“Where there is something done wrong, there will be consequences,” he said.

“If someone has been an abuser, they can never be trusted again – that is the consequence.”

Fiona Scolding QC, the lead lawyer for the Anglican strand of the inquiry, asked the Archbishop how the church is addressing the issue of safeguarding.

He replied that he had implemented training, but that there was also a great need for a culture change.

Mr Welby said: “The training of clergy is essential, also the training of PCCs and church wardens. People also need to follow their instincts. It is at parish level that we will change everything.”

On the blame culture in the Church, he added: “‘I’ve heard about a problem, but it was someone else’s job to report it’.

“That is not an acceptable human response, let alone a leadership response. If you know a child is being abused, not to report it is simply wrong.”

The Archbishop also told the inquiry, being held at the Pocock…

The 81-year-old Pontiff will arrive in Dublin on Saturday August 25 and will take part in the Festival of Families, a faith-based cultural concert, in Croke Park.

He will also celebrate Mass in the Pheonix Park on Sunday August 26.

Further details of the papal schedule are to be released at a later date and it is not known whether Pope Francis will travel across the border into Northern Ireland.

Confirmation of the visit comes after months of speculation.

The announcement has been welcomed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

In a statement, the bishops said: “We are deeply honoured that Pope Francis will come to our country to participate in this universal church celebration of faith and joy, as well as of the contemporary challenges which face families. With great anticipation we also look forward to hearing the apostolic guidance of His Holiness during his stay with us.

“Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, as President of the World Meeting of Families 2018, has been charged with undertaking the significant task of organising this global celebration and each of the other 25 dioceses on the island of Ireland is supporting the host diocese to ensure its success for the whole country and for the world.”

“We eagerly await the visit of Pope Francis, which no doubt will be an occasion of spiritual renewal for our laity, religious and clergy as well as a strengthening…

The Most Rev Justin Welby made the comments in the foreword of a report compiled by debt help charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

The report said, on average, CAP clients’ outstanding debt equates to 96 per cent of annual household income when they seek help.

Mr Welby, the charity’s patron, says in the report: “In 2017 we have seen warnings from many of our financial institutions about the scale of consumer borrowing.

“Achieving economic stability together with economic justice for all is too easily overlooked.”

He continues: “The scale of problem debt in our country is at epidemic levels.

“Jesus calls us to be hope-bringers and peace-givers. Where there are still lives filled with an oppressive hopelessness, where darkness has a grip, our mission is not done.”

In 2013, the archbishop voiced concerns about energy price hikes and he also said in that year that the Church of England wanted to drive payday lenders out of business through the creation of credit unions.

The CAP report said that for people in severe financial hardship, a home may not be a place of refuge but rather a place without food in the cupboard, without heating, hot water or working household essentials.

More than 1,000 CAP clients were asked about life before they got help from the charity.

The research found nearly four in 10 (37%) clients were afraid to leave the home, six in 10 (60%) were…