Pope Leo XIV had a historic meeting with survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy on Monday, according to participants. This meeting, which lasted about an hour and involved four victims and two advocates, marked a significant moment of dialogue, as reported by Ending Clergy Abuse, an international coalition of survivors.
The Catholic Church, with its 1.4 billion members, has faced scandals worldwide for decades, leading to a loss of credibility and substantial financial settlements. A recent report from the Vatican’s child protection commission criticized senior bishops for their slow response in helping victims and providing information on the handling of abuse reports.
During the meeting, Gemma Hickey, a survivor from Canada, shared that Pope Leo listened attentively and expressed warmth towards the victims. Hickey mentioned that they conveyed their role as bridge-builders, committed to pursuing truth, justice, and healing together. Janet Aguti, a survivor from Uganda, expressed hope and described the meeting as a significant step forward for them.
Pope Leo, the first pope from the U.S., acknowledged that he was still coming to terms with the magnitude of the church’s scandals. Survivors urged him to implement a global zero-tolerance policy for priests accused of abuse, drawing attention to similar policies in the U.S. established after abuse scandals in Boston.
Leo, previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, had previously met with survivors during his time as a missionary and bishop in Peru. The survivors emphasized the importance of a universal zero-tolerance policy, echoing the sentiment of their push for greater accountability within the church.
Addressing abuse by clergy was a priority for the late Pope Francis, who met with abuse victims frequently during his papacy. The survivors’ meeting with Pope Leo XIV signifies a step forward in the ongoing efforts to address and prevent abuse within the Catholic Church.