Christian World | Pope Leo XIV will meet survivors of clergy abuse during his Nov 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, the Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday.

ACW | October 27, 2026 — The Holy See Press Office said on Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV will meet survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and other Church members during his 12-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

Vatican News reports that the press office described the meetings as a response to the Pope's wish to show closeness to those who have suffered and to make the Church "a safe and spiritually healthy place."

On June 8 the Pope received a group from Proyecto Repara, an initiative of the Archdiocese of Madrid, at the Apostolic Nunciature. It was his first meeting with abuse survivors abroad.

On September 27 he met survivors in Lourdes for two hours. Five of the seven participants later called the meeting "intense" at a press conference. According to Vatican News, the Pope urged "utmost vigilance" and "utmost determination" in pursuing truth, justice, forgiveness and reparation.

On the flight from Metz to Rome, the Pope said: "Sexual abuse is first and foremost a human problem." He added that when it happens inside the Church it carries a further dimension, because people's faith is deeply wounded.

Background: The Vatican confirmed the trip a day earlier; see Vatican confirms Pope Leo's Latin America trip for Nov 6–17. Vatican News notes that Benedict XVI met survivors on visits to the United States (2008), the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany, and Francis did so in Chile, Ireland, Portugal and Belgium.

Why it matters: The Holy See Press Office says meetings with survivors are part of the official trip programme, one of the clearest signs of how the Catholic Church is addressing abuse under Pope Leo.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Source: Vatican News — Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse survivors in Latin America

Photo: Vatican News (illustrative)