"Pope Leo met and prayed with a small group of abuse survivors, and listened to their stories "in a climate of closeness." Pope Leo XIV met on Saturday with a group of people who were sexually abused by members of the clergy in Belgium. The group of fifteen were victims of abuse when they were minors, the Holy See Press Office said."
"Many of the survivors had previously met with the late Pope Francis during his 2024 visit to Belgium, the Vatican said, adding that the late pontiff had heard their story "with a sense of shame for the suffering they endured as children." Belgium is a largely Roman Catholic country, where the Belgian Catholic Church has been plagued by a series of abuse scandals in recent years."
"The meeting lasted almost three hours, taking place "in a climate of closeness with the victims, of listening and dialogue, both profound and painful," the Vatican said. It concluded with a prayer. Members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors accompanied the group. The Vatican said the commission works closely with the church in Belgium on safeguarding issues."
On November 9, 2025 Pope Leo met and prayed with fifteen people who were sexually abused by clergy in Belgium. The meeting lasted almost three hours, took place "in a climate of closeness with the victims, of listening and dialogue, both profound and painful," and concluded with a prayer. Many survivors had met the late Pope Francis during his 2024 Belgium visit, when he heard their story "with a sense of shame for the suffering they endured as children." Members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors accompanied the group and the commission works with the Belgian church on safeguarding. A 2023 VRT documentary prompted many new victims to come forward, and former Prime Minister Alexander De Croo urged concrete steps to prioritize survivors' interests.
Read at www.dw.com
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