Pope Leo meets for the first time with victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church
Pope Leo met with survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy for the first time on Monday, according to participants, just days after the Vatican’s child protection commission criticized senior Church leaders for their slow response in assisting victims.
Leo convened a meeting with Ending Clergy Abuse, an international coalition of survivors, according to the group’s statement. The meeting, featuring four victims and two advocates, lasted approximately an hour and included “a significant moment of dialogue,” they noted.
The Church, with its 1.4 billion members, has faced decades of turmoil due to scandals worldwide related to abuse and cover-ups, which have undermined its credibility and resulted in financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.
SENIOR BISHOPS CRITICIZED IN REPORT
A notably critical report from the Vatican’s child protection commission, released on Thursday, criticized senior bishops for failing to inform victims about the handling of their abuse reports or whether negligent bishops faced any sanctions.
Gemma Hickey, a Canadian survivor who participated in Monday’s meeting, stated that Leo met with the victims in his office at the Vatican’s apostolic palace, took photographs with them, and listened attentively.
“Pope Leo is quite warm; he was attentive,” remarked Hickey. “We expressed to him that we arrive as bridge-builders, prepared to journey together towards truth, justice, and healing.”
“I departed the meeting feeling hopeful,” remarked Janet Aguti, a Ugandan survivor who attended the gathering. “This is a significant milestone for us.”
POPE SPEAKS ON ZERO TOLERANCE LEGISLATION
Leo, the first U.S. pope, was elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis. Survivors reported that he expressed he was still trying to understand the magnitude of the Church’s scandals.
“I believe he is currently navigating a stage where he is seeking the most effective way to tackle these challenges,” stated Matthias Katsch.
“The era in which a pope could simply utter a single sentence and resolve everything has passed,” Katsch remarked.
Participants in the meeting reported that they requested Leo to establish a global zero-tolerance policy for priests accused of abuse, a measure that survivors have advocated for.
Timothy Law, a co-founder of Ending Clergy Abuse, noted to Leo that the U.S. bishops have a zero tolerance policy, established in 2002 following comprehensive reporting on abuse scandals in Boston. “What prevents us from making it universal?” Law stated that he inquired with the pope.
Leo, previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, is recognized for having engaged with survivors earlier in his career during his time as a missionary and bishop in Peru.
Francis, who passed away in April, prioritized addressing abuse by clergy throughout his 12-year papacy, achieving mixed results.
