Pope's envoy calms paedophile row

The Papal Nuncio arrives at a meeting with priests

The Pope's ambassador in Britain - the Papal Nuncio - has been locked in talks with Catholic priests from across south Wales.

Archbishop Pablo Puente refused to comment as he left the meeting held behind closed doors at All Hallow's Church in Miskin, near Cardiff.

More than 70 members of the clergy attended the session.

They were expected to discuss the situation in the Archdiocese of Cardiff - which has been rocked by recent complaints about the conduct of the Archbishop, John Aloysius Ward.

The Catholic Church in Wales has been rocked by accusations that Archbishop Ward, ignored warnings about two paedophile priests.

Archbishop John Ward - removed from duties

He has been removed from day-to-day duties as he recovers from deep vein thrombosis.

Last month, the Bishop of Wrexham Edwin Regan, was appointed as apostolic administrator to run the archdiocese.

The most senior Catholic cleric in Wales, Archbishop Ward is accused of presiding over a church which allowed two paedophiles to slip through the net.

A joint investigation by BBC Wales and the current affairs programme Panorama revealed that the archbishop ignored serious warnings about Father John Lloyd - jailed in 1998 - and father Joe Jordan jailed in October.

'Solidarity'

Archbishop Ward has insisted throughout that he has done nothing wrong.

The Rev Kieran Conry, of the Catholic Media Office, said: "The visit was initiated by the Papal Nuncio himself.

"We all know that the Archdiocese has been through hard times recently - especially in the light of two serious trials - and the Papal Nuncio wants to express his solidarity to the clergy and listen to them."

"He will address their concerns and anxieties in a move aimed at creating stability in the diocese."