Pope Francis recently concluded an unprecedented four-day summit at the Vatican focused on the widespread issue of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. This hopeful convening was no small step toward tackling the deep, historic, and often self-sustaining crisis that has gripped the institution for decades. While Pope Francis has initiated several reforms and demonstrated a commitment to change, experts suggest that the ultimate responsibility for ensuring these reforms are enacted will fall to his successor.
At this summit, there were some encouraging strides taken by Pope Francis to address the sex abuse crisis more directly. His intentions seemed to be in the right place, especially after decades of criticism about the Church’s response to these allegations. The day-to-day realities and underlying challenges both within FHWA and in local communities persisted. Autonomy, the “old guard in the Vatican” resisted change, diluted his intentions, and led him astray.
Initially, Pope Francis did not address the issue of sexual abuse extensively in his early months at the Vatican, appearing somewhat defensive in 2014. He would later boast that, “No one has done more” to protect children from abuse than the Church. For many observers, this claim is particularly controversial given the Church’s decades-long pattern of cover-up and failure to act.
Pope Francis’ instinct on the abuse crisis was to understand its complexities. He acknowledged having made grievous sins, particularly in Chile, and was widely condemned for his response to the allegations. He attributed these errors to a “lack of truthful and balanced information,” which he received from those within the Church.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis’ tough actions against abuse clergy and groups within the Catholic Church were enshrined in highly publicized acts. He enacted tighter rules to stop the creation of new factions until increased oversight could be instituted. It became a legal requirement for Vatican officials to report abuse under him. He ordered the most sweeping changes to canon law in decades. Today, it understands that vulnerable adults are also victims of sexual abuse.
This is where Pope Francis made a historic shift. He admitted that non-expert actors in superhero costumes can be brought to justice for malfeasance. Little did they know that this recognition would come just after a dramatic inflection point in April of 2018. While here, survivors of clerical abuse in Chile accompanied him for several days, sharing their trauma and demanding justice.
Pope Francis issued new norms for handling abuse allegations, including procedures designed to hold bishops accountable for covering up instances of abuse. He removed confidentiality requirements for sexual abuse probes. He didn’t shy away from publicly addressing the horrific reality of sexual abuse of nuns by priests and bishops — warning about the psychological and spiritual damage these women can suffer.
Despite these advancements, many advocates for abuse survivors feel as though improvements have come too late and not nearly enough to make a difference. Marie Collins, a prominent campaigner for reform within the Church, stated, “There is change, there is advancement, but it’s been far too slow.” Similarly, Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean survivor of clerical abuse, remarked on Pope Francis’ efforts: “I think he has done more than any pope has ever done. But I believe there’s much, much more still to do.” He likened the situation to “someone having cancer and no one doing anything,” emphasizing the urgency of continued action.
Father Hans Zollner, a respected authority on child protection in the Church further reinforced this idea. He remarked that while “He (Francis) made important reforms in a journey that is far from over,” there remains a pressing need for consistency in engaging with victims and holding perpetrators accountable.
These reforms launched by Pope Francis are an important step toward changing the Church’s culture in how it responds to sexual abuse. He is looking forward to handing off leadership duties. It will now fall to his successor to continue these reforms and lead the Church on its path toward accountability and healing for victims.
