Pope Leo denounces what he calls the “scourge” of sexual abuse by Catholic priests

Pope Leo XIV on Monday condemned the “scourge” of sexual violence by Catholic priests and called for a “culture of care” in the Church ahead of an expected private meeting with victims in Spain.

“One of the most painful things is meeting those who have been directly harmed by those who were supposed to care for them, including priests,” said the first pope born in the United States, according to the Reuters news service.

“Faced with this scourge, the church community is called to respond with obedience, truth, justice, reparation and a firm commitment to prevent and maintain a culture of care,” the pope told a gathering of Spanish bishops.

“Every injured person must be able to receive honest listening, acceptance, protection and real ways to recover,” he said.

Spanish media said the Pope would speak later on Monday to the victims at the Vatican embassy in Madrid, officially known as the apostle nunciature.

Before the meeting, representatives of other victims’ organizations complained that they were being excluded.

“We are disappointed that the Pope, instead of listening to the great and strong representations of the victims, prefers to leave us out,” Juan Cuatrecasas, spokesman for the association Infancia Robada (Stolen Childhood), told AFP.

“We will continue to push until the end, insisting that the Pope must see us, hear us, have a voice,” he said, speaking without the nunciature.

The Vatican said there would be a meeting during the trip but would not provide further details until after it has taken place out of “respect for the victims.”

Speaking to reporters on the plane to Madrid on Saturday, Leo, 70, said the scandal of sexual violence “is still an open wound” in the Church.

About 200,000 children are estimated to have been abused by Spanish priests since 1940, according to a 2023 report from Spain’s national ombudsman.

The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Spain’s Catholic Church signed an agreement in March to compensate the victims, after years of non-involvement with Church officials.

An unprecedented speech

The US-born Pope earlier on Monday delivered an unprecedented speech to Spain’s parliament, which was greeted with a standing ovation from lawmakers.

The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics called for a global response to the “sad drama” of migration and said world peace is “a real global imperative.”

The Pope also urged lawmakers to protect life “from its conception to its natural end”, in a country whose left-wing government has legalized euthanasia under strict conditions and wants to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution.

He called for “safe and legal means” of immigration and for immigrants to be given “respectful reception and real opportunities for integration”.

Unlike many of his European allies, Sanchez has a liberal immigration policy.

But the government is under pressure on the issue from the main conservative Popular Party and the far-right Vox, now the country’s third-largest political party.

The pope’s seven-day visit to Spain will include a trip to the Canary Islands, where he will pay tribute to migrants who died at sea on the perilous journey from Africa.

The Spanish archipelago has become one of the main entry points for migrants entering Europe without a permit.

The Pope, who like Sanchez has been heavily criticized by President Trump for his anti-war views, also called for a “patient dialogue” instead of confrontation and renewed fighting in Europe and beyond.

“Weapons may bring peace for a while, but they will never create lasting real peace,” he said.

This speech came a day after the Pope celebrated an open mass in the center of Madrid which was attended by more than 1.5 million people.

On Wednesday, the pope will bless the new tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona — an unfinished masterpiece by acclaimed architect Antoni Gaudi that recently became the tallest church in the world.

The visit will conclude on Thursday and Friday in the Canary Islands, where the pope will be accompanied by Sanchez.