On Saturday, while en route to Madrid, the pope described the sexual violence scandal as «still an open wound» for the Church during his comments to journalists.
On Monday, Pope Leo XIV condemned the «plague» of sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests and urged for fostering a «culture of care» within the Church before an anticipated private encounter with survivors in Spain.
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«Confronted with this plague, the ecclesiastical community must respond through listening, truth, justice, reparation, and a stronger commitment to prevention and cultivating a culture of care,» the pope expressed to the assembly of Spanish bishops.
«Each person who has suffered must encounter genuine listening, acceptance, protection, and effective paths to recovery,» he added.
Spanish news outlets reported that the pope was scheduled to meet victims later on Monday at the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in Madrid, officially the apostolic nunciature.
Prior to the gathering, some victim group representatives voiced dissatisfaction over their exclusion.
Juan Cuatrecasas, spokesperson for the association Infancia Robada (Stolen Childhood), expressed to AFP, «We are disheartened that the pope, instead of engaging with a sufficiently broad and credible representation of survivors, chooses to exclude us.»
«We will continue demanding, relentlessly, that the Pope meets us, listens to us—our voices matter,» he stated outside the nunciature.
The Vatican has confirmed a meeting with victims will occur during the visit but has refrained from providing details beforehand, citing «respect for the victims.»
On Saturday, speaking to reporters aboard the flight to Madrid, the pope described the sexual abuse scandal as «an open wound» still affecting the Church.
Since 1940, an estimated 200,000 minors in Spain have been victims of sexual abuse by clergy, according to a 2023 report published by Spain’s national ombudsman.
In March, following years marked by reluctance and opacity from Church leadership, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s administration and the Catholic Church in Spain agreed on victim compensation.
Unprecedented address
Earlier on Monday, the US-born pontiff delivered a historic speech to the Spanish parliament, earning sustained applause and a prolonged standing ovation from legislators.
He urged a worldwide response to the «tragic reality» of migration and emphasized that global peace represents a «genuine global necessity.»
The leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide called on lawmakers to protect life «from conception to its natural end,» in a nation where the leftist government has legalized euthanasia under strict regulatory measures and seeks to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution.
The pope advocated for «safe and lawful avenues» for immigration and insisted migrants deserve «respectful reception and real chances for integration.»
Unlike many European leaders, Sánchez maintains a comparatively liberal stance on immigration.
Nonetheless, the government faces pressure on immigration matters from the main conservative Popular Party and the far-right Vox party, which is currently the third-largest political group in the country.
The pope’s week-long visit to Spain encompasses a trip to the Canary Islands, where he will honor migrants who have perished at sea during perilous crossings from Africa.
This archipelago serves as a primary entry point for unauthorized migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Additionally, the pontiff, alongside Sánchez, has received sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump due to his anti-war stance. He also advocated for «patient dialogue» over conflict and military buildup within Europe and globally.
«Weapons might silence temporarily but cannot establish true, lasting peace,» he affirmed.
Additional sources • AFP