🔗 Share this article Survivors of Church Religious Sex Abuse Express Hope After Encounter with Pope Leo End Clergy Abuse Global board members and survivors gather in St. Peter Square following the encounter with the Pontiff People who endured sexual abuse by Catholic clergy have voiced renewed hope after their initial encounter with the new Pope at the Holy See. The board president, who leads the anti-abuse organization, stated that the pontiff's decision to meet with them so soon in his papacy sent a strong message about his dedication to tackling the problem. Global Zero-Tolerance Approach Advocated The group is advocating for a global zero-tolerance policy that would defrock any clergy member who confesses to or is proven of sexually abusing a minor. This approach has been implemented in the United States. The Pope acknowledged that there is "opposition in some parts of the world" to this initiative, according to the representative. "We were all being realistic when we recognized that there is resistance," Hickey stated. Inherited Challenge The current pontiff, who took the position in May, has taken on this persistent problem that has haunted the Church for decades. Previous efforts to resolve the situation included an unprecedented meeting on child abuse within the institution and revisions to canon law to clearly outlaw sexual abuse. Personal Connection For Hickey, who uses gender-neutral pronouns, the drive for global implementation of the policy is personal. The Canadian activist revealed they were abused by a clergy member who was subsequently transferred between different parishes. "We trust this will establish the direction for his leadership, because we aim to work with him," they expressed. "Both sides share the common objective, we want to end clergy abuse." Historic Encounter Seven representatives of the organization, which includes victims and supporters from more than 30 nations, met with the Pope in his Vatican office. The meeting, originally scheduled for a brief period, lasted to a sixty minutes, during which the Pope "primarily heard to us," according to the representative. The pontiff was characterized as "quite empathetic" when listening to the account of a female survivor abused at a church-run institution for Indigenous children in Canada. Hickey noted the leader was "tender" about their personal story and seemed "modest, funny, and approachable." "Survivors have long wanted a seat at the table and I didn't perceive like he was making empty promises," Hickey stated. "I believed like he was sincere, realistic, and very open and eager to work with us." Pope Leo celebrates Mass in Vatican City on 19 October Canon Law Reforms The group is hoping that changes to canon law will facilitate the adoption of the zero-tolerance policy worldwide. They have consulted specialists and gathered documents that they plan to submit to the pontiff. "He seemed interested in looking at it," Hickey noted. Accountability Emphasized A recently released church-ordered document emphasized the "necessity of a streamlined protocol for the resignation and/or removal of religious officials or personnel in cases of abuse or failure to act." The report also pointed out that survivors consistently emphasized the "critical requirement for church leaders and senior officials to be held accountable for inaction and concealment." Moving Forward The representative shared they informed the pontiff at the start of their discussion: "This is as much a challenge for him to engage in a dialogue as it was for us." Following the encounter, Hickey expressed optimism for progress. "We understand it's not something that's going to happen overnight, but at the end of the day, uniting and building a relationship and continuing to build that bond is a step in the correct path," they commented. They added that they told with the pontiff: "Even though it's a difficult period, I believe like we can change how the story concludes - he valued that."