Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Pope Leo XIV Urges Italian Church to Strengthen Abuse Prevention
Pope Leo XIV visited Italy and told Catholic leaders to better protect children from abuse by priests.
A group that helps abuse survivors said the pope didn't do enough and that Italy still has a big problem with unreported abuse cases.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the Italian Bishops Conference in Assisi
He called for a 'culture of prevention' against clerical child sex abuse
Survivors' group Rete L'Abuso criticized the lack of direct action from the pope
The group reported 1,106 accused priests and almost 4,400 victims in Italy since 2000
Many cases remain unreported to Italian judicial authorities
- Who
- Pope Leo XIV and the Italian Bishops Conference
- What
- Called for stronger prevention of clerical child sex abuse
- When
- During the Italian Bishops Conference in Assisi
- Where
- Assisi, Italy
- Why
- To address the global crisis of clerical child sex abuse
Pope Leo XIV
Rete L'Abuso
Pope's Stance
Pope Leo XIV
Called for a 'culture of prevention' and thanked the Italian Church for its efforts
Rete L'Abuso
Criticized the lack of direct action and thanked the Church for nothing
- Pope's Visit
- Pope Leo XIV's first visit to Italy since taking office in May
- Survivors' Group
- Rete L'Abuso, an Italian survivors' group
- Estimated Abuse Cases
- 1,106 priests accused, almost 4,400 victims since 2000
- Unreported Cases
- The vast majority of cases were not reported to Italian judicial authorities
- Pope's Previous Meeting
- First meeting with abuse survivors since taking office in October 2023