Pope Leo XIV meets in Madrid with six survivors of clergy sexual abuse and says he hopes to improve the Catholic Church’s response to the crisis, according to statements from the Vatican reported by multiple outlets. The meeting takes place at the Vatican embassy in Spain and lasts about an hour. The Vatican says the pope hears directly from survivors and vows to consider their suggestions on how the Church should respond more effectively to abuse allegations and the harm experienced by victims.
Both sources describe the meeting as part of a broader tradition of popes meeting with abuse survivors during foreign trips. The reports also note that Spain’s Catholic hierarchy has only recently begun addressing its legacy of abuse and alleged cover-ups, following a period in which the severity of scandals that later came to public attention had often been dismissed.
No additional details on the specific recommendations made during the meeting are provided in the available summaries. The Vatican’s communication focuses on the pope’s intent to take the survivors’ input into account.
