Pope Leo XIV Meets Clerical Abuse Survivors in Peru
Pope Leo XIV met six survivors of clerical abuse in Peru, including people connected to Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), the Catholic lay society dissolved in 2025 after allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse as well as corruption. During more than an hour with the group, Leo listened to each person individually and thanked them for sharing their experiences.
The meeting took place during the US-born pope’s nostalgic return to Peru, where he worked for nearly two decades as a missionary and bishop. Before becoming pope, Robert Francis Prevost was the bishop designated to hear from SCV survivors, who said he supported their accounts. Leo later told bishops that the Church must make amends, seek truth and healing, and build a culture of prevention and protection.
Victims are seeking comprehensive reparation, including psychological and medical care, social reintegration and financial assistance. In April 2026, the Vatican announced plans for a listening channel in Lima and said assets seized from SCV would be used to compensate survivors. The visit also included a speech to about 40,000 people, where Leo condemned machismo and violence against women. His wider tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru came only weeks after surgery for lung cancer.
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