Vatican city: Pope Leo XIV has met representatives of an organization of abuse victims for the first time, since he assumed his role as head of the Catholic Church. The pontiff received the international victims' initiative Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) at the Vatican, the Holy See announced on Monday.
According to Ghana News Agency, 'This was a deeply meaningful conversation,' said Gemma Hickey, the chair of the ECA. 'Survivors have long sought a seat at the table, and today we felt heard.' The Catholic Church has been rocked by abuse scandals for decades. At the beginning of his pontificate, Leo, the first US citizen to hold the post, called for a 'culture of prevention' in the Church that would not allow any form of abuse.
He recently appointed a new head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which was set up by his predecessor Francis in 2014. Hickey said the meeting with Leo 'reflects a shared commitment to justice, healing, and real change.'
Leo himself had invited the representatives following a letter from the organization. The ECA said, it now hopes to work with the pope to find ways to better protect children and vulnerable adults worldwide.
