Pope says Church must make amends to abuse victims

Résumé détaillé

Pope Leo met six victims of clerical abuse in Peru, including some linked to the once-powerful and now- disbanded Catholic society, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.

Pope Leo XIV yesterday met six victims of clerical abuse in Peru including some linked to the once powerful and now disbanded Catholic society, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.

The US-born pope is on a nostalgic return to the nation he calls his "homeland" and knows the abuse scandal well from the nearly two decades he worked in Peru as a missionary and bishop.

Pope Leo spent more than an hour with the victims, meeting "each person individually, listening to their stories of suffering and their pain" and "thanked them for their invaluable testimony", the Vatican said.

Together, "they reflected on how to foster a shift in mindset - by listening to victims, seeking the truth, pursuing paths toward healing and committing to the creation of safe environments", it said.

Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), a lay society founded in the 1970s that was widespread in Latin America, was shut down in 2025 by Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, after years of allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse, as well as corruption.

Before he was elected Pope Leo, Robert Francis Prevost was the bishop designated to hear from SCV victims, who said he was supportive of their claims.

In an address to bishops earlier, Pope Leo described the "pain" caused by Catholic clerical abuse and said the Church must make "amends" to victims and foster "a culture of prevention and protection".

Clerical abuse, a global scourge, was "a reality that has caused us so much pain", the 71-year-old said.

In April 2026, the Vatican announced plans to set up a "listening channel" in Lima for victims and use assets seized from the lay movement to compensate them.

Début de l'article, extrait de RTÉ. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.