The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV will hold meetings with survivors of clergy sexual abuse during his upcoming apostolic journey to Latin America. While the Holy See did not specify the exact dates or locations for these encounters, the statement noted that “several meetings are planned,” indicating that the pontiff intends to engage with more than one group of survivors during his time in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
The trip, scheduled for November 6-17, remains on the itinerary despite the Pope’s recent surgery on October 13 to address lung cancer. These planned sessions continue a pattern established by his two immediate predecessors, as Leo recently held similar meetings with survivors in Spain in June and during his subsequent visit to France. In a shift from earlier practices, the Vatican confirmed the upcoming meetings in advance rather than waiting until after they had concluded.
According to the official Vatican statement, the encounters are intended to demonstrate the Pope’s solidarity with those who have been harmed by such violence. The goal, the statement added, is to collaborate with survivors to build accessible paths to healing and to ensure that the church remains a safe, spiritually healthy environment that reflects the Gospel.
Pope Leo XIV possesses a personal connection to the region, having served as a missionary priest in Peru for two decades. During that time, he witnessed the impact of abuse on victims firsthand. Notably, he served as the designated bishop within the Peruvian bishops' conference tasked with listening to victims of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, an influential movement that faced allegations of abuse. Former Cardinal Robert Prevost played a key role in the 2025 decision by Pope Francis to suppress that organization. Additionally, the Pope’s native Argentina has faced a significant reckoning regarding abuse, with victims there continuing to press the Vatican for action, including addressing cases linked to Pope Francis.
6-17 trip is going ahead as planned despite Leo's Oct.
