Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray was on the brink of resigning last night as a senior Irish minister condemned Pope Benedict for his silence on the Murphy report.

The Republic’s Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin launched an unprecedented attack on the Pope, saying he was “deeply disappointed” the Pontiff had not given a detailed response to the damning abuse report.

As pressure intensified for Bishop Murray to stand aside before the Conference of Bishops gathers in Maynooth, Co Kildare, on Wednesday, speculation was growing that the prelate planned to travel to Rome to submit his resignation to the Pope.

Cardinal Sean Brady and Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will attempt to personally engage Pope Benedict to resolve the crisis when they travel to Rome later this week.

Church sources said last night they expected Bishop Murray would no longer be in office by Wednesday when the Irish Bishops' Conference gathers to respond to what Cardinal Brady has called “a crisis” for the Church.

Bishop Murray's position became untenable at the weekend when Cardinal Brady intervened publicly to say that they had been in contact last week and Bishop Murray would do the right thing. Cardinal Brady, the Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh, said that if Bishop Murrary were found responsible for causing harm to children, he would resign.

“He is considering his position and hopes to be in a position to comment soon, and I am confident that Bishop Donal will do the right thing,” he said.

In a letter read out at Masses across Bishop Murray's Limerick diocese yesterday, the bishop told parishioners he was “reflecting” on his decision. Bishop Murray said he was “acutely aware” of the pain and anguish that has been experienced since the publication of the Murphy report.