What began as a letter from survivors of clergy abuse evolved into an hour-long Oct. 20 meeting filled with testimonies, proposals, and listening with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace, according to a report from Vatican News.
For the first time since his election, Pope Leo met with a group of abuse survivors and advocates, which included six representatives from Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) Global, a coalition of over 30 countries committed to ending abuse within the Church, according to the outlet.
The Pope’s response to their outreach was described as “a gesture of openness” in the ECA’s press release leading to what it called “a historic and hope-filled step toward greater cooperation.”
Participants spoke of the Pontiff’s attentiveness and humility.
“Pope Leo was very open, and each of us shared some personal reflections. He was warm and listened to us. He also has a good sense of humor—very humble,” said Gemma Hickey of Canada, herself a survivor.
“There was no anger — only hope for accountability and lasting change,” she added. “We believe in the intrinsic dignity of every child and vulnerable adult, in the courage of every survivor, and in the Church’s moral responsibility to lead with transparency and compassion. Our mission is to support those who have been harmed and to promote reforms that protect the most vulnerable, helping to restore trust and integrity in an institution we know is capable of great good”
Timothy Law, co-founder of ECA USA, said, “The goal is not confrontation, but accountability, transparency, and the willingness to work together to find solutions.”
Matthias Katsch of Germany brought a clear appeal.
“It is no longer enough for survivors to speak; society must listen,” he said.
The group presented their “Zero Tolerance Initiative” and proposed deeper collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which presented its annual report last week, as CatholicVote previously reported. Pope Leo suggested that the two organizations establish a dialogue with one another.
Janet Aguti of Uganda added, “We came not only to express our concerns but also to explore how we can work together to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults around the world.”
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