🔗 Share this article

People who experienced abuse by church officials have expressed fresh optimism following their initial meeting with the new Pope at the Holy See.

The board president, who leads Ending Clergy Abuse, stated that the Pope's decision to engage with them so soon in his papacy spoke volumes about his dedication to addressing the issue.

Global Zero-Tolerance Approach Advocated

The organization is pushing for a global zero-tolerance policy that would permanently remove any clergy member who confesses to or is found guilty of sexually abusing a child. This policy has already been adopted in the United States.

The Pontiff recognized that there is "resistance in certain regions of the world" to this initiative, according to the representative.

"Everyone was practical when we recognized that there is resistance," they stated.

Legacy Challenge

The current pontiff, who assumed the position in spring, has inherited this persistent issue that has plagued the Catholic Church for many years.

Previous efforts to resolve the problem included an unprecedented summit on child abuse within the Church and revisions to church laws to clearly outlaw abuse.

Deeply Felt Connection

For the representative, who prefers gender-neutral pronouns, the drive for global implementation of the measure is personal. The Canadian advocate shared they were victimized by a priest who was subsequently transferred between different parishes.

"We trust this will set the tone for his leadership, because we aim to collaborate with him," Hickey expressed. "Both sides share the common objective, we seek to end clergy abuse."

Historic Encounter

Seven members of the organization, which includes survivors and supporters from over thirty nations, engaged with the Pontiff in his official residence.

The discussion, initially planned for a brief period, extended to a full hour, during which the Pope "primarily heard to us," according to the representative.

The Pope was described as "quite empathetic" when listening to the story of a woman abused at a Catholic residential school for native youth in North America.

They added the Pope was "tender" about their own story and appeared "very humble, humorous, and approachable."

"Victims have long wanted a voice in discussions and I didn't perceive like he was giving us lip service," they commented. "I felt like he was sincere, practical, and receptive and eager to work with us."

Church Regulations Changes

The organization is hoping that changes to canon law will enable the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy globally.

They have spoken with specialists and compiled documents that they will present to Pope Leo.

"He appeared engaged in reviewing it," Hickey remarked.

Accountability Highlighted

A recent church-ordered report emphasized the "importance of a efficient process for the stepping down and/or removal of Church leaders or staff in cases of misconduct or negligence."

The report also noted that victims consistently emphasized the "urgent need for bishops and major superiors to be made responsible for inaction and concealment."

Path Ahead

Hickey revealed they told the pontiff at the start of their meeting: "This is as much a risk for him to participate in a dialogue as it was for us."

After the meeting, Hickey expressed optimism for progress.

"We realise 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 relationship is a move in the right direction," they commented.

They added that they told with the pontiff: "Even though it's a dark chapter, I feel like we can change how the story ends - he valued that."