Pope Leo XIV met this Monday, October 20, in the Vatican with members of an international organization of survivors and defenders of victims of abuse committed by the clergy.
Four victims and two advocates from Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA), a coalition representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in more than 30 countries, had an hour-long conversation with Leo XIV. According to participants, it was the first time during his pontificate that the Pope met with abuse survivors.
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Gemma Hickey, ECA board chair and a survivor of clerical abuse, said “it was a deeply meaningful conversation. Today we all felt heard.”
The group said it was invited to the Vatican after sending a letter to the newly elected pontiff.
“We came not only to raise our concerns, but also to explore how we could work together to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults around the world. We believe collaboration is possible and necessary,” said Janet Aguti, vice chair of the ECA board.
“The Church has a moral responsibility to support survivors and prevent future harm,” added Tim Law, ECA co-founder and US board member. “Our goal is not confrontation, but accountability, transparency and the willingness to walk together toward solutions.”
The Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors last week published its second annual report on the Church’s safeguarding policies and procedures, in which it called for increased awareness of abuse and the need to offer reparations to victims.
In an interview with Crux In July, Pope Leo said that how to respond to the abuse crisis in the Church — including how to balance justice for victims with the rights of the accused — is “one of the many challenges I am trying to find a way to deal with.”
“An authentic and deep sensitivity and compassion in the face of pain and suffering that people have endured at the hands of ministers of the Church, whether priests or bishops, lay people, men and women religious, catechists, etc. That is a problem that affects us, and I believe it should be treated with deep respect,” he said.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Hannah Brockhaus
Hannah Brockhaus is Rome correspondent for Catholic News Agency. He grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Truman State University in Missouri.