Pope Leo XIV held a historic meeting with survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, as reported by attendees. The gathering, facilitated by Ending Clergy Abuse, an international survivor coalition, involved four victims and two advocates and resulted in an hour-long dialogue described as significant.
The Catholic Church, with its 1.4 billion members, has faced enduring scandals worldwide involving abuse and subsequent cover-ups, leading to financial losses and credibility damage. A recent Vatican report from the child protection commission criticized senior bishops for their sluggish response in aiding victims and failing to disclose information on abuse reports handling or disciplinary actions against negligent bishops.
One of the survivors present at the meeting, Gemma Hickey, a Canadian, shared that Pope Leo received them in his Vatican office, engaging in attentive conversations and expressing warmth. Hickey emphasized their role as bridge-builders striving for truth, justice, and healing alongside the Pope.
Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, assumed office in May following the death of Pope Francis. Survivors mentioned his acknowledgment of the gravity of the church’s scandals, leaving them with a sense of hope post the meeting. Janet Aguti, a survivor from Uganda, echoed the sentiment, recognizing the meeting as a significant advancement.
The participants urged Pope Leo to establish a global zero tolerance policy for accused priests, a demand long advocated by survivors. Timothy Law, a co-founder of Ending Clergy Abuse, highlighted the existing zero tolerance law among U.S. bishops, implemented post the Boston abuse scandals, questioning the feasibility of a universal adoption of such a policy.
Pope Francis, who passed away in April, made combating clergy abuse a central focus during his tenure, engaging with victims on numerous occasions, notably during his international travels. Leo, previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, had a history of meeting survivors during his time as a missionary and bishop in Peru.