Pope's visit to Latin America: In Peru, Leo XIV seen as a native son

Lima, November 6 — A group of activists convened in the Peruvian capital to plead with Pope Leo XIV to expel sexual abusers from the Catholic Church, urging the pontiff to seek justice for the ongoing scandal prior to his upcoming tour of Latin America. The US-based Bishop Accountability nonprofit unveiled a press conference on Thursday, unveiling a list of 77 clergy members who have been accused of sexually abusing minors in Peru.

As the 71-year-old pope initiates his journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and his native Peru, his adopted country where he spent nearly two decades serving as a missionary, parish priest, and bishop, the Vatican has announced that Leo will meet with abuse victims during his travels, though the specifics of the plans remain undisclosed.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of the nonprofit, expressed to reporters that the pope could bring an end to this "disgusting situation" by instituting a decree of "zero tolerance" for those proven guilty of sexual abuse. In addition, Doyle emphasized that the church should permanently remove not only those responsible for the abuse but also those who covered it up.

Jose Escardo, president of the Survivors’ Network of Abuse in Peru, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the necessity of such a policy, stating that those implicated must be handed over to the civil justice system and face judgment beyond just the Church's. The 56-year-old Escardo is among the victims of a conservative group that Pope Francis ordered to be disbanded in 2025 after the Vatican concluded a seven-year investigation.

Several high-ranking church officials, including conservative cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, are listed among the alleged abusers on Bishop Accountability’s roster.