Pope says Church must make amends to abuse victims

Pope Leo XIV met with six clerical abuse victims in Peru, including those linked to the disbanned Catholic society, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV). The 71-year-old pope, who spent over a year in Peru as a missionary and bishop, listened to their stories of suffering and thanked them for their testimonies. SCV, founded in the 1970s and active in Latin America, was shut down in 2025 after allegations of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.

Pope Leo described the pain caused by clerical abuse and said the Church must make amends and foster a culture of prevention and protection. The Vatican announced plans to set up a listening channel in Lima for victims and use seized assets from SCV to compensate them. Renzo Orbegozo, a victim, sought comprehensive reparation, including psychological, medical, and social support.

During his tour of South America, Pope Leo addressed sensitive topics such as machismo and violence against women. The pontiff received a warm reception in Peru, where thousands of people lined up to see him in the popemobile.