Pope Leo XIV meets abuse survivors in Peru and discusses how the Church can better listen

Pope Leo XIV has met six people who say they were sexually abused by Catholic clergy during his visit to Peru. According to the Vatican, the meeting in Lima lasted more than an hour and focused on hearing survivors’ experiences and considering how the Church can respond more effectively. The Vatican said Leo spoke individually with each person, listening to accounts of suffering and pain. The group also discussed ways to encourage a shift in attitude, including listening to victims, pursuing truth, supporting healing and creating safer environments, according to the statement. The encounter was the second time Leo has met with abuse survivors during his 12-day South American trip. He had previously met five survivors in Buenos Aires. An international survivors’ group, Ending Clergy Abuse, criticized that meeting for not including additional people, including survivors of a widely reported case at an institute for deaf children in Argentina. Leo is visiting Peru, where he served as a missionary for about 20 years and led the Diocese of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. Some survivors have credited him with advocating for the dissolution of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Peru-based Catholic community that faced allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse. The Vatican dissolved the group in 2025 under Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor. The Vatican said some of the people Leo met in Peru were former members of Sodalitium. It did not provide further details about how the meetings were arranged, citing the privacy of survivors. Leo’s South American tour also included stops in Uruguay and Argentina, and his Peru visit was due to continue through November 16.