Pope Leo XIV addresses clergy sexual abuse during visit to Peru

Pope Leo XIV took up the issue of sexual abuse committed by Catholic clergy during a visit to Peru. Al Jazeera reported that he addressed bishops on the subject. Reuters reported that he met victims of abuse in Lima.

Meeting with survivors in Lima

The Pope met six victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Lima on Thursday, according to the Vatican as cited by Reuters. The Vatican said it was the Pope's second meeting with abuse survivors during the trip, Reuters reported.

At the meeting, participants discussed how the Church can better listen to abuse victims, according to the same Vatican account cited by Reuters.

According to Reuters, the visit to Peru is part of a 12-day trip to South America.

Address to bishops

Al Jazeera reported that the Pope addressed bishops in Peru on clergy sexual abuse. According to Al Jazeera, he called on the Church to make amends to victims. Al Jazeera's headline attributed the word "amends" to the Pope and placed it in quotation marks. No second outlet among the reports reviewed by Vocemundi describes this address.

What each side says

• Pope Leo XIV: According to Al Jazeera, the Pope said the Church must confront sexual abuse by clergy with truth, justice and accountability. He also said it must make amends to victims and create stronger protections to prevent future abuse.
• The Vatican: According to Reuters, the Vatican said the Pope met six abuse survivors in Lima. It said they discussed how the Church can better listen to victims.

What the reports do not say

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include the full text of the Pope's address to bishops. They do not include any extended quotation from it. They do not state when or where in Peru the address took place.

The reports do not describe what form any amends would take. They do not say whether specific policy changes were proposed or decided. The Reuters headline refers to the Pope considering changes in how the Church treats victims. However, the Reuters summary reviewed by Vocemundi does not describe any specific changes.

The reports do not include any account from the six survivors or from victims' advocacy groups. They do not describe the first meeting with survivors on the trip. They do not identify the other countries on the trip. They do not quote the Vatican statement directly.

Analysis

The Pope's remarks and meetings in Peru place clergy abuse at the centre of this stage of his South America trip. Much depends on what follows. If the call for amends leads to concrete measures, it could shape how dioceses handle victims' claims. If no specific steps are announced, survivors and observers may judge the visit mainly on its words. The accounts of the Lima meeting so far come from the Vatican. Accounts from survivors themselves would give a fuller picture. Details of any changes the Church may be considering could also clarify the visit's practical significance.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.