The Catholic Primate Cardinal, Seán Brady, and representatives of a number of religious orders met victims and survivors of child abuse in Armagh Monday.
After the three-hour meeting, Cardinal Brady said he had apologised wholeheartedly and without reservation for the abuse the victims had suffered as children.
He said he had reaffirmed the church's commitment to co-operate fully with the inquiry into institutional abuse set up by the Stormont Assembly.
A spokesman for the victims group said it had been a very positive meeting.
However, John McCourt added that they continue to press the Catholic Church to reveal all the information it had about child abuse in its institutions.