Pope Leo XIV Meets Abuse Survivors in Madrid, Promises Church Reform and Accountability

Pope Leo XIV met six survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Madrid on Monday, pledging that their testimonies and reform suggestions would guide ongoing efforts to improve the Catholic Church’s response to the global abuse crisis.

The private meeting took place at the Vatican embassy in Madrid and lasted nearly an hour, according to the Vatican. Survivors described their experiences and presented proposals focused on accountability, prevention, and support for victims. The Pope assured them of his “closeness” and commitment to making the Church a safer institution.

The encounter came during Leo’s first visit to Spain, a trip marked by large public events and growing scrutiny over the Church’s handling of abuse cases. Earlier in the day, he addressed Spanish bishops, calling the crisis a “scourge” and an “open wound,” and urging stronger prevention mechanisms, truth-seeking, and reparations.

Spain has recently launched a state-supported reparations system for historic abuse cases that fall outside criminal prosecution, involving both the government and the Catholic hierarchy. However, survivor groups remain divided, with some criticising the process as selective and insufficiently representative.

During the Madrid meeting, several advocacy groups also protested outside the embassy, arguing that only a limited group of survivors was invited and that broader victim voices were excluded. They accused Church authorities of using the engagement for reputational repair.

Separately, Pope Leo reaffirmed the Church’s position on protecting the seal of confession , framing it as essential to religious freedom despite ongoing international debate over whether it hinders abuse investigations.

The visit also highlighted unresolved tensions within the Church. Former members of Opus Dei reportedly sought an audience with the Pope to raise allegations of psychological and labour abuse, but the meeting was not granted due to scheduling constraints, Vatican sources said.