Pope Leo XIV rescheduled and personally devoted almost three hours to a passionate witnesses’ meeting. He interviewed 15 victims of clerical sexual abuse from Belgium. This extended time to reflect serves to underscore just how serious and critical these discussions are. Today’s meeting at the Vatican is a big step in the right direction. We believe that Pope Leo is sincerely trying to root out the ingrained culture of abuse that has taken over the Church.
Pope Leo XIV had been elected only six months earlier, the first American pope. He’s had first-hand experience handling the challenges of clergy abuse claims. As a bishop in Peru, he confronted one of the gravest scandals the Church has faced in Latin America. His fearless leadership made history during an especially tumultuous time for the institution. In many ways, those experiences have made him the advocate he is today, especially when it comes to bringing accountability to the fight against clerical abuse.
The urgency of addressing these matters was underscored by a recent meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo. The Prime Minister urged the Pope to take concrete actions to support survivors of abuse, following a report from a Vatican commission that emphasized the need for Catholic leaders to do more.
For the last thirty years, Belgium has experienced first-hand the nightmare of clerical sexual abuse. Among the most outrageous cases was that of a former bishop who had sexually assaulted two of his own nephews. Pope Leo XIV has moved swiftly to address these horrific instances. He is energetically leading discussions to develop an internal Church culture that unequivocally opposes abuse, “in all its forms.”
Just last month Pope Leo XIV had his first meeting with survivors. This action speaks volumes about his unprecedented commitment to address the consequences of the grave scandals that have plagued the Church. His recent meeting with Belgian victims testimony demonstrates his dedication to this cause. Second, he’s a tireless advocate for the victims of this trauma.
“Our ambition must be to guarantee that such a tragedy never recurs,” Pope Leo XIV stated at the conference. His words told of a fierce commitment to make permanent change from within the Church.
