Pope Leo XIV met with five survivors of clergy and institutional abuse during his visit to Argentina. (Foto: Instagram)
Pope Leo XIV met Monday, Nov. 9, with five people who said they were sexually abused by members of the clergy and Catholic institutions in Argentina. The meeting took place during the pope’s visit to the country and lasted more than an hour, according to a statement from the Vatican.
The local Church arranged the meeting before Leo traveled to the Catholic University of Argentina for an event with representatives of the working world. The Holy See Press Office said the pope spoke with each survivor individually, listened to accounts of the abuse and heard proposals for improving the Church’s support and recovery services.
At the end of the meeting, Leo blessed the participants and thanked them for sharing their experiences. He expressed solidarity with the survivors and said he intended to strengthen efforts to protect and accompany them. The Vatican said his message also extended to other people who experienced abuse but could not attend.
Earlier that day, Leo celebrated an outdoor Mass in Buenos Aires, near the Palermo neighborhood. Estimates shared during the visit put attendance at about 2.5 million people. In his homily, he described the Christian family as a pillar amid the challenges facing society and urged worshipers to pass their faith on to younger generations.
“Do not give in to voices that say the Christian family is outdated. On the contrary, today more than ever, it is a pillar amid the many uncertainties of our time,” Leo said. He also referred to difficulties affecting families, including financial instability, precarious work, domestic violence, separation and addiction.
The pope began a 12-day trip through South America on Friday, Nov. 6. The itinerary includes Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. After visiting Uruguay, Leo arrived in Argentina on Sunday, Nov. 8; Peru, where he spent many years as a missionary and bishop, is the final stop. Brazil is not on the itinerary. The trip comes less than a month after Leo underwent surgery on Oct. 13. Before he departed, the Vatican said his recovery was progressing well and that there were no medical reasons to prevent him from traveling.
