Pope Leo XIV met with five survivors of clerical abuse in Argentina on Monday during his ongoing tour of South America, promising to reinforce safeguard measures within the Catholic Church.
The private meeting, which lasted over an hour, involved individuals who suffered abuse by members of the clergy or within ecclesial institutions in Argentina, though the Vatican did not disclose the specific dates or locations of the incidents.
According to a statement released by the Vatican, the pontiff met privately with each survivor to discuss their experiences and collect feedback.
”The pope spoke with each of them individually, listening to their accounts, the painful experiences they had endured, and their suggestions for strengthening paths toward healing within the Church,” the Vatican stated.
The papal visit to Argentina coincides with criticism from a network of local clergy abuse survivors, who have publicly accused Church leadership of failing to follow through on commitments of “zero tolerance” regarding abuse and institutional cover-ups.
Addressing both the attendees and the broader community of survivors, the pope expressed solidarity and outlined his reform agenda.
”To them — and, through them, to other victims whom it was not possible to meet — the Pope conveyed his closeness and his commitment to strengthening measures for protection, well-being, welcome, and accompaniment within the Church,” the Vatican added.