Pope Leo XIV has called for justice for victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during a trip to Spain. While speaking to reporters on his flight to Madrid on Saturday, the pope described the scandal of sexual violence as still an open wound for the Church.
On Monday, Pope Leo told Spain's Catholic bishops that they must listen to survivors of abuse by clergy and offer them reparations. This marked the first direct reference during his visit to the scandals that have shaken the credibility of the local Church.
The pope also denounced the scourge of sexual violence by Catholic clergy and called for a culture of care in the Church. These comments come ahead of an expected private meeting with victims in Spain.