Pope Leo XIV engaged in a historic meeting with survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy on Monday, according to participants. The meeting, facilitated by Ending Clergy Abuse, an international coalition of survivors, involved four victims and two advocates and lasted approximately an hour with a significant exchange of dialogue.
The Catholic Church, with a membership of 1.4 billion, has faced enduring scandals worldwide related to abuse and subsequent cover-ups, significantly tarnishing its reputation and leading to substantial financial settlements.
A recent report from the Vatican’s child protection commission pointed fingers at senior bishops for their sluggish response in assisting victims and not providing adequate information on the handling of abuse reports or the sanctions imposed on negligent bishops.
Gemma Hickey, a survivor from Canada who attended the meeting, shared that Pope Leo welcomed them in his office at the Vatican’s apostolic palace, engaged in discussions, took photos, and showed genuine attentiveness. Hickey emphasized the survivors’ commitment to fostering unity and pursuing truth, justice, and healing.
Pope Leo, the first American pope elected on May 8 following the death of Pope Francis, expressed his ongoing struggle to comprehend the magnitude of the church’s scandals during the meeting with survivors. Janet Aguti, a survivor from Uganda present at the meeting, expressed hope and described the encounter as a significant milestone.
Participants also urged Pope Leo to establish a global zero-tolerance policy for accused priests, a demand long advocated for by survivors. Timothy Law, a co-founder of Ending Clergy Abuse, highlighted the existing zero-tolerance law for U.S. bishops implemented in 2002 after the notorious Boston abuse scandals, questioning the possibility of universalizing such a policy.
Formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, Pope Leo had previously engaged with survivors during his tenure as a missionary and bishop in Peru. The survivors’ push for a worldwide zero-tolerance policy aligns with their efforts to combat clergy abuse effectively.
While the late Pope Francis made combating clergy abuse a central focus during his 12-year papacy, meeting abuse victims frequently, the survivors expressed optimism following their meeting with Pope Leo and emphasized the need for concrete actions to prevent future abuse cases.