World · Latin America · 6 hrs ago
Pope Leo meets five clergy abuse survivors in Argentina
Pope Leo XIV met five survivors of clergy abuse in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Monday.
The private meeting lasted more than an hour, and Leo listened to each person’s account and proposals for healing.
He pledged to strengthen protection and support for people who have suffered abuse in the Catholic Church.
The meeting was the first of several planned during his 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Some other survivors had sought meetings but could not meet him, including groups calling for greater transparency and stronger action against accused or convicted clergy.
The Church has faced years of abuse scandals and cover-up allegations that have damaged its reputation.
Further survivor meetings are expected on the tour, which is due to end in Peru.
Pope Leo XIV met five survivors of clergy and church-institution abuse in Buenos Aires on Monday.
The private meeting lasted more than an hour, and Leo listened to each survivor individually before meeting with them as a group.
The Vatican said Leo expressed closeness to survivors and a desire to strengthen protection, welcome and support in the Church.
The meeting was the first of several planned with survivors during his 12-day tour of Latin America.
Some survivors had called for stronger accountability and transparency from the Church.
- Who
- Pope Leo XIV met five survivors of abuse by clergy and church institutions.
- What
- He listened to their accounts and proposals for healing, and reaffirmed his desire to strengthen protection in the Church.
- When
- Monday, November 9, 2026.
- Where
- The Catholic University of Argentina in Buenos Aires.
- Why
- The Vatican said the meeting was intended to express closeness to survivors and strengthen paths to protection and healing.
Survivors’ groups
Vatican officials
Accountability
Survivors’ groups
Survivors called for stronger action against people accused or convicted of abuse and greater transparency about Church proceedings.
Vatican officials
Vatican officials have cited the difficulty of creating one abuse-reporting law across countries and said removing priests can put them beyond Church supervision.
Protection measures
Survivors’ groups
Some survivors called for a global zero-tolerance policy for clergy facing credible abuse accusations.
Vatican officials
The Vatican said Leo wanted to reinforce protection, welcome and support in the Church.
Survivors called for stronger accountability and transparency from the Church ahead of Leo’s visit.
Leo met five survivors at the Catholic University of Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Another meeting with survivors was expected when Leo arrived in Peru.
Leo’s three-country South America tour was due to end.
- Survivors at meeting
- Five
- Meeting duration
- More than an hour
- Meeting location
- Catholic University of Argentina, Buenos Aires
- Tour length
- 12 days
- Tour countries
- Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
5 sources
Pope meets survivors of clergy abuse in Argentina as it reckons with legacy and ongoing cases
Pope meets with clergy abuse survivors in Argentina
Pope Leo XIV meets clergy abuse survivors in Argentina
Il Papa vede vittime di abusi, 'rafforzare la protezione'
Pope Leo meets Argentine clergy abuse survivors as Church faces calls for tougher action
What people are saying
The Pope spoke individually with each of them, listened to their words and to the painful stories of their experiences, as well as to their proposals for strengthening paths towards healing within the Church
To them, and through them to the other victims whom it was not possible to meet, the Pope expressed his closeness and his desire to strengthen paths of protection, goodness, welcome, and support within the Church
painful stories and proposals to consolidate paths of healing in the church