Pope Leo XIV on Monday met with members of an international organization of clergy abuse survivors and advocates at the Vatican.
Four victims and two advocates from Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) — a coalition representing clergy sexual abuse survivors from more than 30 countries — had an hourlong conversation with Leo on Oct. 20. According to participants, it was the first time during his pontificate that the pope met with survivors of abuse.
Gemma Hickey, ECA board president and survivor of clergy abuse, said that “this was a deeply meaningful conversation. Today we all felt heard.”
The group said it was invited to the Vatican after sending a letter to the newly-elected pontiff.
“We came not only to raise our concerns but also to explore how we might work together to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults around the world. We believe collaboration is possible — and necessary,” said Janet Aguti, the ECA board’s vice president.
“The Church has a moral responsibility to support survivors and prevent future harm,” added Tim Law, ECA co-founder and board member from the U.S. “Our goal is not confrontation but accountability, transparency, and a willingness to walk together toward solutions.”
The Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors last week released its second annual report on the Church’s safeguarding policies and procedures in which it urged heightened awareness of abuse and the need to offer reparations to victims.
In an interview with Crux in July, Pope Leo said how to respond to the Church’s abuse crisis — including how to balance justice for victims with the rights of the accused — is “one of the many challenges that I’m trying to find a way to deal with.”
“An authentic and deep sensitivity and compassion to the pain, the suffering that people have endured at the hands of Church ministers, whether that be priests or bishops, laity, religious men or women, catechists, etc. That’s an issue that is with us, and I think it needs to be treated with deep respect,” he said.
This article was originally published by CNA.
