Pope Leo XIV met six victims of clerical abuse in Peru yesterday, including some linked to the disbanded Catholic society Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, and told bishops the Church must make amends and foster a culture of prevention. The US-born pope, on a three-nation Latin American tour weeks after lung cancer surgery, also criticised machismo and said violence against women wounds all of humanity in a speech to about 40,000 people in Lima.
The Vatican said Pope Leo spent more than an hour with the victims, meeting each individually, listening to their stories and thanking them for their invaluable testimony. Together they reflected on how to foster a shift in mindset by listening to victims, seeking truth, pursuing healing and committing to safe environments. In an earlier address to bishops, the 71-year-old pontiff described clerical abuse as a reality that has caused us so much pain and said the Church must make amends.
Pope Leo, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, worked in Peru for nearly two decades as a missionary and bishop before his election, and was the bishop designated to hear from victims of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV). The lay society, founded in the 1970s and widespread in Latin America, was shut down in 2025 by his predecessor Pope Francis after years of allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse, as well as corruption. In April 2026, the Vatican announced plans to set up a listening channel in Lima for victims and use assets seized from the movement to compensate them.
Renzo Orbegozo, a 50-year-old victim, said they were seeking comprehensive reparation. Many require psychological and medical support as well as social reintegration, all of which ultimately translates into financial assistance. The US-based nonprofit Bishop Accountability presented a list in Lima of 77 members of the Peruvian clergy it said had been publicly accused of abusing minors. Anne Barrett Doyle, the group’s co-director, called on Leo to implement zero tolerance of abusers.
At a speech later to about 40,000 people on the challenges facing Peruvians, the pope slammed machismo attitudes and said violence against women wounds all of humanity. There was no excuse for an unequal sharing of domestic responsibilities or the subordination of one spouse to the other, he said. Crowds lined the streets of Lima, chanting his name, with some children dressed as the pope or as bishops.
Pope Leo's intense tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru comes just weeks after surgery for lung cancer. He described the Catholic mission as like the steep ascents of the Inca Trail, which is not to be walked alone. Walking together fosters communion, he said. During his six-day visit he will travel from the Amazon to the high Andes, including an emotional return to Chiclayo, where he was bishop for a decade.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The pope's direct engagement with victims signals a shift in the Church's response to abuse, moving beyond apologies to concrete reparations and prevention.
- His denunciation of machismo and violence against women addresses a deeply entrenched social issue in Latin America, potentially influencing Catholic teaching and practice.
- The visit tests his recovery from lung cancer surgery and his ability to sustain a demanding schedule, which could shape public perception of his papacy.
Background
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, spent nearly two decades in Peru as a missionary and bishop before his election as pope in 2025. He was closely involved in the fallout from the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) scandal, a lay society shut down by Pope Francis in 2025 amid allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse. The Vatican has pledged to use seized assets to compensate victims. This is his first trip to South America since his election and follows recent surgery for lung cancer.
Key Perspectives
- Vatican: Pope Leo met victims individually, listened to their stories and thanked them for their testimony; together they reflected on creating safe environments and a mindset shift. He told bishops the Church must make amends and foster prevention.
- Victims: Renzo Orbegozo said they seek comprehensive reparation, including psychological and medical support, social reintegration and financial assistance.
- Bishop Accountability: Anne Barrett Doyle called for zero tolerance of abusers and presented a list of 77 accused Peruvian clergy.
- Pilgrims: Pedro Campos said Pope Leo is a member of our country who knows the needs of all Peruvians.
What to Watch
- Implementation of the Vatican's planned listening channel in Lima and compensation from seized SCV assets.
- Whether Pope Leo's visit to Cuzco at high altitude will affect his recovery from lung surgery.
- Any further meetings or announcements regarding abuse prevention during the remainder of his Peru tour.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedPope Leo XIV said the Church must make amends to abuse victims during his Peru visit.RTÉ News: “Pope says Church must make amends to abuse victims.”
- SupportedLeo met six victims of clerical abuse in Peru yesterday, including some linked to Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.RTÉ News: “Pope Leo XIV yesterday met six victims of clerical abuse in Peru including some linked to the once powerful and now disbanded Catholic society, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.”
- Partly supportedLeo told bishops the Church must make amends and foster a culture of prevention.RTÉ News: “In an address to bishops earlier, Pope Leo described the "pain" caused by Catholic clerical abuse and said the Church must make "amends" to victims and foster "a culture of prevention and protection".”
- SupportedLeo was on a three-nation Latin American tour weeks after surgery for lung cancer.RTÉ News: “The intense trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru comes just weeks after the pope had surgery for lung cancer”
- SupportedAt a speech to about 40,000 people in Lima, Leo criticised machismo and said violence against women wounds all humanity.RTÉ News: “At a speech later to about 40,000 people on the challenges facing Peruvians, the pontiff slammed "machismo" attitudes and said violence against women was "a reality that wounds all of humanity".”
- SupportedThe Vatican said Leo spent more than an hour with the victims, meeting each individually and listening to their stories.RTÉ News: “Pope Leo spent more than an hour with the victims, meeting "each person individually, listening to their stories of suffering and their pain"”
- SupportedRenzo Orbegozo, a 50-year-old victim, said victims were seeking comprehensive reparation.RTÉ News: “Renzo Orbegozo, a 50-year-old victim, said they were seeking "comprehensive reparation".”
- Partly supportedMany victims require psychological and medical support and social reintegration, which ultimately translates into financial assistance.RTÉ News: “"Many require psychological and medical support, as well as social reintegration - all of which, ultimately, translates into financial assistance," he said.”
- SupportedThe Vatican announced plans in April 2026 for a listening channel in Lima and to use seized assets to compensate victims.RTÉ News: “In April 2026, the Vatican announced plans to set up a "listening channel" in Lima for victims and use assets seized from the lay movement to compensate them.”
- SupportedBishop Accountability presented a list of 77 Peruvian clergy members it said had been publicly accused of abusing minors.RTÉ News: “the US-based nonprofit Bishop Accountability presented a list in Lima of 77 members of the Peruvian clergy it said had been publicly accused of abusing minors.”
- SupportedSCV was shut down in 2025 by Pope Francis after years of allegations of abuse and corruption.RTÉ News: “Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), a lay society founded in the 1970s that was widespread in Latin America, was shut down in 2025 by Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, after years of allegations of sexual, physical and psychological abuse, as well as corruption.”