The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, has warned that the Irish Catholic Church is in danger of becoming a “middle-class church”.

With churches closed, broadcasting Mass on the internet has filled that void for some, but Dr Martin said: “A lot of people don’t have computers, especially lots of elderly people.

The Archbishop also expressed a lack of enthusiasm for suggestions the crisis would see people turn to religion. “They said in the last economic crisis that an economic crisis is good for religion. That is very superficial,” he said.

“There are people today who may have said a prayer and they haven’t said one for a long time, but that isn’t a long-term commitment that is going to bring people back to faith. Many believers may even be challenged by what is happening.”

He said he believes if people see the Church has reached out “to mirror the mercy of Jesus” during the pandemic and has given itself “totally in a situation like that”, it will be judged more on this than on webcam Masses.

However, he admitted he was particularly concerned about those who have lost loved ones during the crisis and have been forced by restrictions not just to scale back funerals but sometimes to have stayed away from the funerals.

“There are other ways in which we can show solidarity to those who are mourning. One of the things is just to keep in contact,” he said.