Pope Leo Urges Spanish Bishops to Address Clergy Abuse Scandals

Pope Leo, during his visit to Spain, urged Catholic bishops to actively listen to and offer reparations to survivors of clerical abuse. He emphasized the need for the Church to demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding measures and creating a protective environment, amidst ongoing scandals affecting the Church's credibility.

Pope Leo has called on Spain's Catholic bishops to heed the voices of abuse survivors and provide them with reparations. This marks his first explicit address to the scandals that have undermined the credibility of the local Church.

Speaking on Monday, the first U.S. pope stated that survivors deserve to witness a 'determined commitment' from the Church to enhance safeguarding measures and foster a secure culture for children and vulnerable individuals.

The call to action follows a 2023 report by Spain's human rights ombudsman, which estimated the existence of hundreds of thousands of clerical abuse victims over the years. This mirrors global occurrences that have financially burdened the Church significantly. Pope Leo's week-long tour of Spain is his inaugural visit to a European Union nation outside Italy, and he is expected to meet with victims during his stay, according to the Vatican.