Pope Leo XIV to Meet Survivors During Latin America Visit
During his 12-day Apostolic Journey to Latin America, Pope Leo XIV will meet with survivors of abuse committed by clergy and other members of the Church, as he has during his recent Apostolic Journeys to Spain and Franc…
During his 12-day Apostolic Journey to Latin America, Pope Leo XIV will meet with survivors of abuse committed by clergy and other members of the Church, as he has during his recent Apostolic Journeys to Spain and France. The Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday that the Pope wishes to express his closeness to survivors of clerical sexual abuse during his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
The announcement followed confirmation from the Press Office regarding the Pope’s visit from November 6 to 17 to the three Latin American nations. The statement indicated, “During the days of the Holy Father’s upcoming Apostolic Journey to Latin America, some meetings are planned with people who are victims of abuse by members of the clergy and the Church.” This initiative aligns with the Pope’s desire to express solidarity with survivors and facilitate paths to healing for those affected by such violence, aiming to ensure that the Church is a safe and spiritually healthy environment.
Pope Leo XIV engaged with groups of abuse survivors during his recent Apostolic Journeys to Spain and France. In Spain, on June 8, he held closed-door encounters with members of Proyecto Repara, an initiative of the Archdiocese, and expressed his commitment along with that of the Church to their proposals, which he hoped would lead to genuine healing. In Lourdes on September 27, the Pope described a two-hour meeting as “intense,” emphasizing the need for vigilance and determination in promoting truth, justice, forgiveness, and fostering a culture of prevention to address the issue of clerical abuse.
During a return flight from Metz to Rome, the Pope highlighted that “sexual abuse is first and foremost a human problem,” acknowledging its profound impact within the Church and on the faith lives of individuals. He underscored the Church’s role in facilitating healing for those impacted. Historically, meetings with abuse survivors have been a regular feature of various Apostolic Journeys, dating back to Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States in 2008 and continuing through Pope Francis’ journeys to multiple countries aimed at confronting this issue. For Pope Leo XIV, his meeting in Madrid represents a significant moment, marking his first encounter abroad with survivors of abuse within the Church.
