Pope Leo xiv meets with survivors of sexual abuse and clergy and lawyers

Pope Leo XIV met with a group of survivors of the persecution of priests and lawyers for the first time on Monday, marking a contrast to his predecessors, who had retained activists and affirmative action groups.

The meeting, which included four victims and two lawyers led by the last female pastor, a global organization of abuse victims and activists, lasted about an hour.

Gemma Hickey, a Canadian survivor and President of the Group’s Board of Directors, said the meeting with the Pontiff was a “deep discussion” that showed “a shared commitment to real change.”

“Survivors have been asking for a seat at the table for a long time, and today we heard it,” the statement said.

This group is campaigning for the tolerance of the US policy US level US level US level zero-etherance level of the US zero in the Catholic Church. Among other things, this policy calls for the permanent removal from the Ministry of any priest who abuses a child.

Leo admitted that “There was a lot of resistance” to the idea of ​​a zero-reference law, says the law of the time, the originator of the abuse of the clergy. But Law said he told Leo the group wanted to work with him and the Vatican to move the idea forward.

Hickey told reporters Leo and the group in his office in the Vatican’s Parolic Palloce, took pictures with them, and listened carefully.

“I left the meeting with hope,” Janet Aguti, a Ugandan survivor who was also at the meeting, told reporters, according to Reuters News Agency. “It’s a big step for us.”

Leo has previously met with survivors through pastors and survivors, and he was the person who pointed out listening to the victims at the Peruvian bishops’ conference when he was bishop there. But the first pope born in history acknowledged the importance of meeting the group as a terrorist organization, members said during a press conference.

The survivors said that Leo told them that he was going to find the strength and size of the church houses after he became Pope in May.

“I think he’s still at a stage where he’s trying to figure out how to deal with these issues,” Matthias Katsch said.

It’s late Pope Francis And Pope Benedict XVI met with individual victims, but he kept activists and voluntary organizations at arm’s length.

In May 2024, Francis sat down with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell a A very comprehensive discussionHe asked her what, in His opinion, the church had done to deal with the shame of sexual abuse.

“You have to keep doing more,” replied Francis. “Unfortunately, the grief of abuse is very great. And this, a clear conscience not only to not allow, but to set conditions so that it does not happen.”