The papal plane lifts off from Dublin International Airport bringing to an end Pope Francis' 36 hours in the Republic of Ireland.

The first papal visit to the country in 40 years has come to a close - and it also brings an end to our live coverage of the Pope's visit.

Thanks for joining us. Good night.

Leanna Byrne
BBC News NI

In 1979, the Pope told Ireland he loved her. In 2018, a different Pope asked her for forgiveness.

The tone for Pope Francis' visit was set before he stepped on the plane, when he ​published a 2,000 word letter to members of the Catholic Church addressing previous failures to deal with clerical sex abuse and its cover-up.

Image source, Getty Images

The theme of forgiveness has touched every one of his events, reaching its pinnacle in Phoenix Park.

Read more here.

It's been a very busy 36 hours in Ireland for the Pope - from Croke Park to Knock to Phoenix Park.

Image source, PA

As the pontiff's plane taxis onto the runway of Dublin Airport, have a read of how the Pope's final day in Ireland went including his fresh apology, and request for forgiveness, for those in the Church who "kept quiet" about clerical child abuse.

You may recall earlier the Mayo GAA fan who got Pope Francis to sign a jersey? Well PA caught up with fan, who hopes Mayo's decades-long "All-Ireland curse" will be lifted following the pontiff's actions.

Phoenix Park clearly wasn't full to capacity earlier but we have no official numbers on attendance yet - Irish police said they will release figures later tonight.

Pope Francis climbs the steps to the Aer Lingus plane and pauses for a final wave.

With that, he turns and disappears into the airplane. He's expected to be on his way to Rome within the next 20 minutes.

Pope Francis is now at the airport and is expected to leave shortly for Rome.

There's a farewell smile and a handshake for Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadker.

Relatives of those killed in the Omagh bomb in 1998 were among those involved in the papal Mass earlier today.

Timothy Grimes, who lost his sister and mother in the Real IRA attack, and Patrick Monaghan, whose sister and mother also died, were involved in the offertory procession.

Also involved was Emma Mhic Mhathuna, a high-profile victim of Ireland's cervical cancer scandal.

Mrs Mhic Mhatuna, who is terminally ill, was one of 208 women misdiagnosed following incorrect smear test results in the Republic of Ireland.

She was joined in the offertory procession by Olive Foley, the widow of former Ireland rugby international Anthony Foley who died last year.

A busy two days for the Pope in Ireland was headlined by heavier themes of forgiveness, penitence and family - but there were some lighter moments too.

Clergy, cardinals and Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar are at Dublin Airport where the Pope is expected shortly before departing.

Pope Francis is at the Convent of the Dominican Sisters in Dublin where he meeting with Irish bishops and clergy.

A speech to be given by him to the bishops was released to the media earlier today.

In the speech, he tells the bishops that that "a recurrent theme of his visit... has been the Church's need to acknowledge and remedy, with evangelical honesty and courage, past failures with regard to the protection of children and vulnerable adults".

He says the Catholic Church in Ireland has moved forward "with the help of the National Board for Safeguarding Children" and established "a stringent set of norms aimed at ensuring the safety of young persons".

"In these years, all of us have had our eyes opened to the gravity and extent of sexual abuse in various social settings.

"In Ireland, as elsewhere, the honestly and integrity with which the Church chooses to confront this pianful chapter of her history can offer and example and a warning to society as a whole."

Many people have also attended the Stand4Truth event in Dublin to show solidarity with victims of institutional abuse.

Organisers said it was not a protest against the Pope’s visit but to provide a space for survivors who feel excluded by the main events.

If you've missed any of the papal coverage, tune into BBC One tonight for a special BBC Newsline special at 10:30pm - that's right after the news.

Image source, Getty Images/Reuters

While the papal Mass was taking place, at least 1,000 people gathered for a silent vigil in Tuam, County Galway.

They were remembering the babies and young children who died in the Church-run mother and baby home in the town.

As the Pope ends his two-day visit to Ireland, events recall Church scandals in the country.

Image source, PA

The papal Mass has ended but earlier the Pope returned to a constant theme of his visit to Ireland - sexual and institutional abuse inflicted by the Church - and asked for forgiveness in a penitential prayer before the Mass began.

Image source, Reuters

After asking for forgiveness for "abuses in Ireland", he added: "We ask forgiveness for some members of the churches hierarchy who did not take charge of these painful situations and kept quiet.

"We ask for forgiveness for all those times in which many single mothers were told that to seek their children who had been separated from them, and the same being said to daughters and sons themselves, that this was a mortal sin.

"This is not a mortal sin. We ask for forgiveness."

Just a few buses available for those leaving Phoenix Park...

And with that it's all over from Phoenix Park - thousands of people who braved the poor conditions will be filing out to make their way back home.

Meanwhile, the Pope will head off to a meeting of bishops at the Convent of the Dominican Sisters in Dublin before a farewell ceremony at Dublin Airport.

Pope Francis is back on his feet and addressing at Phoenix Park at the end of the papal Mass - he's offering a "heartfelt thank you" to those involved in organising this weekend's event, including the thousands of volunteers involved.

"Thank you everyone and may the Lord repay you," he says.