Pope Leo met a group of abuse victims in the Vatican who refer to the ECA, Ending Checkery Abusean international network but mainly active in the United States. This was reported by Eca Global itself and the meeting was reported in Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office among the audiences held by the Pope on Monday morning.
This is the first meeting between Leo XIV and victims of abuse by the clergy. Six victims were present and reported that they “felt listened to”.
The Pope, meeting a group of bishops on 11 September, said that inappropriate behavior on the part of the clergy “cannot be put in a drawer, it must be addressed, with a sense of mercy and true justice, towards the victims and the accused”.
The meeting comes a few days after the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors presented its annual report noting the slowness with which some dioceses, including the Italian one, proceed in tackling the scourge of abuse.
The Eca, the network to which victims of abuse refer, speaks of “a historic and hopeful step towards greater cooperation”, reporting on the meeting between the Pope and the Board of Ending Clergy Abuse. The ECA represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse from over 30 countries.
“It was a deeply meaningful conversation,” he said Gemma Hickey, President of the Board of Eca and Canadian survivor of clergy abuse. «It reflects a shared commitment to justice, healing and real change. Survivors have long sought a seat at the negotiating table and today we felt heard».
The meeting followed a letter sent by the ECA to the newly elected Pope, who responded positively. “We have come not only to express our concerns, but also to explore how we could work together to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults around the world,” said Janet Aguti, vice-president of the ECA Board of Directors from Uganda. «We believe that collaboration is possible and necessary». «The Church has a moral responsibility to support survivors and prevent future harm», he added Tim Law, co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of ECA from the United States.
«Our goal is not confrontation, but responsibility, transparency and the will to walk together towards solutions». During the meeting with the Pope, Eca Global shared its “Zero Tolerance” Initiative, underlining the importance of «consistent global standards and survivor-focused policies».
“We are here with hope,” said Matthias Katsch, co-founder and member of the ECA Board of Directors from Germany. “Hope for justice, hope for fair compensation and hope for better protections for minors and vulnerable adults.”
