Pope Leo XIV Pushes Italian Church for Stronger Child Abuse Prevention Amidst Criticism & Survivor Disappointment

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Robust Abuse Prevention in Italian Church Amidst Growing Pressure

ASSISI, ITALY – November 20, 2025

In a significant address delivered on November 20, Pope Leo XIV appealed to the Italian Episcopal Conference during their general assembly in Assisi, urging them to cultivate a profound "culture of prevention" to combat clerical child sex abuse. This call comes as the Italian Church faces intensifying scrutiny and criticism for its perceived sluggishness in confronting a global crisis that has deeply scarred the Catholic institution worldwide.

A Direct Plea for Protection

Meeting the bishops at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, Pope Leo XIV specifically highlighted the imperative of safeguarding the "youngest and most vulnerable." He emphasized the critical importance of creating an environment where all forms of abuse are preempted. The Pontiff also stressed the necessity of actively welcoming and attentively listening to victims, acknowledging their suffering. "I thank you for what you have already done," the Pope stated, "and I encourage you to continue your commitment to protecting minors and vulnerable adults."

Survivor Groups Express Disappointment

Despite the Pope's words, survivor advocacy groups voiced their profound disappointment, arguing that the pontiff did not go far enough in demanding concrete, immediate action from the Italian bishops. Francesco Zanardi, founder of the Italian survivors group Rete L'Abuso (The Abuse Network), expressed his incomprehension. "In reality, in Italy, there’s nothing to be thankful for, and they (the Vatican) know that well," Zanardi told AFP news agency, highlighting a disconnect between the Pope's commendation and the grim reality on the ground.

Italy's Lingering Resistance to Reform

The Pope's address notably avoided direct mention of a recent report from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which critically pointed to "substantial cultural resistance" within Italy regarding the handling of abuse cases. Unlike many other nations where national inquiries have been launched, the Italian Catholic Church has yet to initiate a comprehensive national investigation into clergy abuse.

Rete L'Abuso's own report, published in October, paints a stark picture. It estimates that 1,106 priests in Italy have faced sexual abuse accusations since the year 2000, affecting nearly 4,400 known victims. Alarmingly, the vast majority of these cases were reportedly never brought before Italian judicial authorities. Zanardi lamented the systemic issues, noting that accused priests are often merely transferred to new dioceses rather than being reported. He stressed the absence of a legal framework compelling the Church to report abuse, concluding, "Everything works as it did 30 years ago in Italy... The only thing that has changed is that before they did it in secret, now they do it in full view of everyone."

Global Calls for Zero Tolerance

The context of Pope Leo XIV's remarks also includes his first meeting with a group of sexual abuse survivors in October, shortly after taking office in May following the death of Pope Francis. During that meeting, the US-based organization Ending Clergy Abuse urged the Vatican to extend the "zero tolerance" rule on abuse, already enforced in the United States, to the global Church. However, the Pope acknowledged significant worldwide resistance to implementing such a universal change, underscoring the deep-seated challenges in achieving consistent accountability across the vast Catholic institution.