Pope Leo XIV Holds Private Meetings with Clergy Abuse Survivors in Argentina

Pope Leo XIV engaged in private meetings with five survivors of clerical sexual abuse on the second day of his significant visit to Argentina. These encounters, held in Buenos Aires on Monday, November 9, 2026, mark the beginning of several planned discussions with abuse survivors throughout the Pope's 12-day tour of Latin America, as confirmed by the Vatican. According to a Vatican statement, "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." These closed-door sessions followed a large open-air mass attended by an estimated 2.5 million people at the Monumento de los Espanoles on Avenida del Libertador, marking the country's first papal liturgy in almost 40 years.

The Holy See Press Office stated in October that these meetings with survivors align with the Pope's commitment to "express his closeness to those who have suffered," foster healing, and ensure the Church is a secure and "spiritually healthy" environment. Pope Leo, the first pontiff from the United States, has made it a practice to meet with survivors during his international visits. This outreach is part of a broader effort to mend global relations and rebuild the Catholic Church's credibility, which has been impacted by decades of lawsuits, widespread sexual abuse, and cover-ups. Although global statistics on clergy abuse are challenging to compile, a 2021 independent inquiry indicated approximately 216,000 victims within the French Catholic Church between 1950 and 2020. Earlier research reported over 10,600 individuals abused by Catholic priests in the U.S. from 1950 to 2002, and a 2019 German study noted 6,875 victims of Catholic clergy, religious, and lay church workers in Australia between 1980 and 2015.

During the meeting, which extended for over an hour, Pope Leo, aged 71, heard the testimonies of the victims and reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing safeguarding measures within the Catholic Church. Prior to his papacy, Leo served as the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Argentina is the second destination on Pope Leo's three-country tour, which commenced in Uruguay and is scheduled to conclude in Peru. This visit is the first by a pontiff since Pope John Paul II's journey in 1987.