Pope Leo XIV met six survivors of clerical abuse in Lima on Thursday, November 12, and urged the Catholic Church to make amends to victims and build a stronger culture of prevention and protection.
The Vatican said the pope spent more than an hour with the survivors, listening to each person individually and thanking them for sharing their experiences. The group discussed listening to victims, seeking the truth, supporting healing and creating safe environments, according to Vatican News.
Some of those who met Leo were linked to Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Catholic lay movement suppressed by Pope Francis in 2025 after years of allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse, as well as corruption, France 24 reported.
In a separate address to bishops on Thursday, Leo described clerical abuse as a source of profound pain and said the Church must make amends to survivors. He called for a culture focused on preventing abuse and protecting people.
The Vatican announced in April that it planned to establish a listening channel for victims in Lima and use assets seized from the Sodalitium to compensate them. Renzo Orbegozo, a 50-year-old survivor, said victims were seeking comprehensive reparation, including psychological and medical support, social reintegration and financial assistance.
Clayton Ward