🔗 Share this article

People who experienced sexual abuse by church officials have expressed renewed hope after their initial meeting with the new Pope at the Vatican.

Gemma Hickey, heading Ending Clergy Abuse, stated that the Pope's decision to engage with them so soon in his leadership spoke volumes about his dedication to tackling the issue.

Worldwide Strict Approach Advocated

The group is pushing for a global strict approach that would defrock any priest who confesses to or is found guilty of abusing a child. This policy has already been adopted in the US.

The Pope acknowledged that there is "resistance in certain regions of the globe" to this initiative, according to the representative.

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

Legacy Issue

The current pontiff, who assumed the position in May, has taken on this persistent issue that has haunted the Church for decades.

Previous efforts to resolve the situation included an unprecedented meeting on paedophilia within the institution and revisions to canon law to explicitly criminalize sexual abuse.

Personal Link

For Hickey, who prefers gender-neutral pronouns, the campaign for worldwide adoption of the measure is deeply meaningful. The North American activist shared they were abused by a priest who was subsequently moved between different parishes.

"We trust this will establish the direction for his papacy, because we aim to work with him," Hickey stated. "Both sides share the same goal, we seek to eliminate abuse by religious officials."

Historic Meeting

Seven representatives of the organization, which includes victims and supporters from over thirty countries, met with the Pontiff in his Vatican office.

The discussion, initially planned for 20 minutes, extended to a full hour, during which the Pope "primarily heard to us," according to Hickey.

The pontiff was described as "very understanding" when listening to the story of a woman abused at a church-run institution for Indigenous children in North America.

They added the leader was "tender" about their personal story and appeared "modest, humorous, and approachable."

"Victims have consistently sought a seat at the table and I didn't perceive like he was making empty promises," Hickey stated. "I felt like he was sincere, practical, and receptive and keen to collaborate with us."

Canon Law Reforms

The organization is advocating that revisions to canon law will enable the adoption of the zero-tolerance policy worldwide.

They have spoken with specialists and gathered materials that they will present to Pope Leo.

"He appeared interested in looking at it," Hickey remarked.

Accountability Highlighted

A recently released church-ordered document highlighted the "necessity of a streamlined protocol for the resignation and/or removal of Church leaders or personnel in cases of abuse or failure to act."

The report also pointed out that victims repeatedly stressed the "critical requirement for bishops and senior officials to be made responsible for negligence and concealment."

Path Ahead

The representative shared they informed the Pope at the start of their discussion: "This represents as much a risk for him to engage in a dialogue as it was for us."

After the encounter, they voiced hope for future change.

"We understand it's not something that's going to happen overnight, but at the end of the day, coming together and establishing a relationship and continuing to strengthen that bond is a step in the right direction," they commented.

They concluded that they shared with the pontiff: "Just because it's a dark chapter, I feel like we can change how the narrative concludes - he valued that."