{
  "id": 10606193,
  "title": "Pope says parts of Church abusive 'as a system'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/pope-says-parts-of-church-abusive-as-a-system",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T04:09:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/09/1543638/pope-says-parts-church-abusive-system"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV has stated that certain aspects of the Catholic Church have, at times, been abusive as a system, following discussions with victims of clerical sex abuse in France. Several of these victims emphasized the systemic nature of the abuse during their encounters with the pontiff. Pope Leo XIV, when questioned about this issue, clarified that while he referred to specific organizations within the church that, at times, engaged in abusive behavior, he also acknowledged the systemic character of sexual abuse in the institution. Jerome Guillement, a victim who previously spoke about a priest abusing him as a teenager, expressed his belief that the pontiff comprehended the systemic dimension of sexual abuse within the Church. Guillement argued that while perpetrators are individuals, it is the systemic dimension within the institution that enables such abuse to persist. In 2021, an inquiry revealed that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused approximately 330,000 minors in France over a period of 70 years. Pope Leo XIV emphasized that abuse within the Church also leads to the deep and sometimes irreversible wounding of people's faith, and he underscored the church's responsibility to accompany and assist those affected in their pursuit of healing.",
  "summary": "VATICAN: Pope Leo XIV on Monday said parts of the Catholic Church have sometimes “as a system been abusive“, following his meeting with several victims of clerical sex abuse in France.",
  "key_points": [
    "Pope Leo XIV acknowledges abusive aspects of the Catholic Church as a system.",
    "Systemic sexual abuse in the institution, as emphasized by victims.",
    "330,000 minors abused in France over 70 years, according to 2021 inquiry."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}