Christian World | Pope Leo XIV met six survivors of clergy abuse for more than an hour at the Vatican embassy in Lima on Thursday, the Holy See Press Office said

ACW | November 13, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV met six survivors of abuse by clergy and church institutions in Peru on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lima, the Holy See Press Office said.

The meeting began shortly after 4:30 p.m. local time and lasted just over an hour, the office said. After a brief greeting in the nunciature's chapel, the pope spoke with each survivor individually.

They reflected together on fostering "a change in mindset through listening to victims, seeking the truth," according to the statement. It said "some of them had previously belonged to groups linked to the Sodalitium of Christian Life."

The pope "thanked them for their valuable testimony, expressing his closeness to them," and gave them his blessing before leaving, the Vatican said. The survivors were not named.

Background: Lima is the final stop of Pope Leo's 12-day Latin America trip. Days earlier in Buenos Aires, he met five clergy abuse survivors.

Why it matters: It was the pope's second meeting with abuse survivors on this trip. The Holy See Press Office said its aim was listening to victims, seeking the truth and building safe environments in the Church.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Source: Vatican News (Holy See Press Office statement) — Pope Leo XIV meets with abuse victims in Peru

Photo: Vatican Media (file)