Pope Leo XIV spoke with five survivors of clerical abuse during his historic visit to Argentina

Pope Leo XIV met Monday in Buenos Aires with five survivors of sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy, on the second day of his visit to Argentina. The meetings were private and are part of a series of discussions that the pontiff intends to hold with victims during his 12-day tour of Latin America.

According to the Vatican, the pope spoke individually with each survivor, listened to their testimonies and heard their proposals for strengthening healing and support measures within the Catholic Church. The meetings are intended to repair relations with victims and restore the institution’s credibility, which has been severely damaged by numerous abuse cases, lawsuits and allegations of cover-ups.

The discussions took place after an outdoor Mass celebrated on Avenida del Libertador, attended by approximately 2.5 million people. It was the first papal service held in Argentina in nearly 40 years.

Leo XIV, the first pope born in the United States, had previously met with abuse survivors during several foreign visits. His South American tour began in Uruguay and will end in Peru. Abuse cases have deeply affected the Church internationally, including in France, the United States and Australia, where investigations have identified thousands of victims.