Pope Meets Five Abuse Survivors During Argentina Visit

On November 9, Pope Leo XIV met five survivors of abuse by clergy and church institutions during his visit to Argentina. The hour-long meeting at the Catholic University of Argentina included individual conversations and a group discussion. The five participants were selected by the local church.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo listened to their accounts and proposals for strengthening paths to healing. The Vatican also said the pope expressed closeness to other victims who had sought meetings and a desire to reinforce protection, welcome and support within the church.

Among those who did not meet with Leo were 43 women who allege they were trafficked and forced to work at Opus Dei centers in Argentina. Their claims involve senior members of the organization; prosecutors have asked a judge to summon some for questioning, but no order has been issued. Opus Dei denies wrongdoing.

Survivors’ groups have also called for the Vatican to take stronger action against clergy convicted or accused in criminal courts when the outcome of church proceedings has not been made public. They have pointed to Julio Grassi, who is serving a 15-year prison term for sexually assaulting a child, and former Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, sentenced in 2022 to four and a half years for sexually abusing two seminarians. Zanchetta received parole in 2025.

Before becoming pope, Francis intervened in both cases. He commissioned a study of Grassi’s case that concluded Grassi was innocent. Francis initially rejected allegations against Zanchetta, later authorizing a church criminal proceeding in 2019; the Vatican has not publicly announced its outcome. Leo is expected to meet abuse survivors during his visit to Peru later this week.