On May 11, Pope Leo Prevost gave his first papal Sunday blessing. Standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he spoke to the expectant crowd – a defining moment in his papacy. Once known as Robert Prevost, he’s currently at the front lines of the battle against abuse claims in the Catholic Church. His priorities include the impact of the drug war in Latin America. More importantly, he has deep experience in church planting and as a pastor. He already had served as bishop in Chiclayo, Peru, and subsequently as prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops.
From the beginning of Pope Leo’s leadership, he has been committed to confronting allegations of abuse at every turn. He acts in hopeful faith to address the deeply wounding legacy of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV). This society has come under much deserved fire. This article will explore how Pope Leo’s past experiences as Robert Prevost shaped his approach to these challenges and helped him navigate one of the most serious scandals facing the church.
Early Leadership and Experience
Prior to becoming Pope, Robert Prevost served as a bishop in Chiclayo, Peru. There, he learned the hard way the complicated realities of dealing with abuse allegations. His performance in this role set the stage for his later work within the church. This protectorate role was formalized in early 2023, when he became prefect of the new-type Dicastery of Bishops. His new job would take him to the forefront of supervising bishops globally and addressing difficult questions of clerical abuse.
In his younger days, Prevost was an integral connection for victims of abuse to get the help they needed. He forced the SCV to mediate talks, resulting in monetary agreements for those harmed. His dedication to fulfilling the expectations of victims was clear through the sheer amount of allegations he made his way through during his time in office. As Oscar Osterling, survivor says, “I never lost my hope, but I have more now because of what happened the last two years. If we were having this conversation two years ago, I’d have said I was hopeless about the Church. Now, it’s different.”
When Leo became pope, he quickly deposed Archbishop Eguren. His firm decision to go against conventional wisdom and remove the archbishop himself sent a clear signal of his determination to confront the abuse scandals directly. He became famous for his speedy and accurate fact-finding. He deftly obtained resignations when needed, even with the pushback of church officials who, in the past, had made national and local church efforts difficult.
Addressing Scandals and Seeking Accountability
Pope Leo’s legacy has not been without controversy. While serving as Robert Prevost, he was accused of failing to investigate abuse claims in cases Criminal 3640 from Chicago and Criminal 721-2009 from Chiclayo. While all of these experiences were profoundly painful for him, they helped shape his determination to address these issues openly and honestly as Pope.
The third concrete action taken by Pope Leo was the total suppression of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae at the beginning of 2025. This unusual action illustrated his resolve to hold the church community accountable and seek justice for victims. The SCV publicly acknowledged their need for “forgiveness from the entire Church and society for the pain caused,” reflecting an increasing awareness among church leaders about the consequences of past actions.
In a meeting arranged by Pope Leo between survivors and Pope Francis scheduled for 2024, Robert Prevost worked diligently as one of the event’s organizers. This forum sought to give victims of abuse a space to speak out and describe their suffering directly to church authorities. Renzo Orbegozo, a participant in this meeting, noted that “he wanted to know everything about our correspondence …and showed real empathy,” indicating the Pope’s sincere intention to understand and address their concerns.
A Personal Touch in Leadership
Pope Leo’s personal meetings with victims have been praised for their warmth and approachability. At a recent celebration, he radiantly accepted an oversized box of chocolates and colorful Peruvian scarf from Paola Ugaz. This poignant act reflected his deepening connection with Peru, the country where he had spent decades of his life as a missionary and bishop.
His own background and determination to see things from the victims’ perspective has ironically placed him in a unique position within the church’s hierarchy. An advisor to a recent Archbishop of Denver called it a calamity and an archbishopric that “something is very very wrong.” He called for ongoing awareness and reform from all of us—including the Catholic Church.
This sentiment strikes a chord with every survivor who has ever lost the battle to be heard in their pain. Oscar Osterling stated, “In my case it did not escalate to a full sexual assault,” underscoring the varied experiences of those who have faced abuse within the church context.
