Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has welcomed the new Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown to Ireland.
The Archbishop said the Archdiocese of Dublin wants to work with him to build a different, more humble, yet renewed church.
He made his comments in a sermon at the Pro Cathedral in Dublin last Sunday morning.
Archbishop Brown replaced Giuseppe Leanza in the wake of the report into child abuse in the Cloyne diocese.
Dr Martin said the church should be confident of the contribution the teaching of Jesus Christ will make to the Ireland of tomorrow.
He also welcomed Pope Benedict XVI's help in leading what he called "our wounded church" towards repentance and healing.
Archbishop Brown said the Pope was dismayed by the revelations of child abuse committed by some members of the clergy and of religious congregations.
Irish-Vatican relations
Archbishop Martin said the Holy See and Ireland have deep-rooted links, which go back long into history and that Irish people have profound bonds of affection for the Holy See.
He said the diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Ireland have been fruitful in fostering the interests of Ireland, of the Holy See and of their common interests in the good of the human family.
The Government announced in November that it was closing its embassy in the Vatican.
Archbishop Martin said he is confident that the Vatican embassy will reopen, but "perhaps in a leaner way".
Speaking to RTÉ News, he said that there would have to be separate embassies for Italy and the Vatican.
He said the two embassies could be on the same site and share facilities, but that they would have to be separate.
However, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said this afternoon that there is no intention to review the decision to close the embassy.