The careful planning of a blunt challenge to Pope Francis by Minister Katherine Zappone that bypassed the Archbishop of Dublin and went beyond Government policy has been revealed through a freedom of information request by the Sunday Independent.

Ms Zappone was the Government representative who greeted Pope Francis at Aras an Uachtarain on August 25 at the start of his visit to Ireland. She wrote to her advisers on August 18 that she wanted to tell him about Tuam, ask for an apology and insist the Vatican share in costs to excavate and re-bury the babies and grant access crucial church documents.

“So, [the] message is – will he: offer [an] apology, share in costs, provide access to relevant information,” she told her advisers.

Ms Zappone asked if she should press the Pontiff for a response. It was suggested she learn the Italian for “Is that a ‘yes’, Pope Francis?” Her advisers warned that looking for a commitment on something not yet sanctioned by Government was “risky”. The minister asked what role Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin would have in her meeting with the Pontiff but advisers told her to focus on the Pope. “If there are issues with the Dublin Archbishop – then the Pope is his ‘boss’. We are going to the top,” said one adviser.