Pope Leo XIV to Meet Abuse Victims During Spain Visit
Pope Leo XIV will meet with several victims of abuse within the Church during his upcoming visit to Spain. This has been confirmed by the Vatican in a statement, which indicates that the meeting has been organised by the Spanish Church. More information will be provided following the meeting, while respecting the victims’ privacy. This appointment does not appear on the Pope’s public agenda and will be private.
Details of the Meeting
According to information published by El País, the specific day and location of the meeting have not been disclosed, although the newspaper suggests it could take place in Madrid, potentially at the Nunciature.
The confirmation comes after several days of speculation regarding whether Leo XIV would meet with survivors of abuse during his visit. British journalist Gareth Gore, known for his critical investigation into Opus Dei, informed El País that a source close to the Pope confirmed the Pontiff’s intention to meet a small group of victims. Gore also mentioned that he attempted to arrange a meeting with individuals affected by Opus Dei, but was informed that the Pope’s schedule was full. Reports indicate that Opus Dei victims will not be included in the planned meeting.
Reactions from Victim Associations
The news has caused discontent among victim organisations, who feel overlooked in the preparations for the visit. In a statement to EFE, Juan Cuatrecasas, president of the National Association of Stolen Childhood, lamented the handling of the meeting, saying: “We are treated like an unwanted burden. What can we expect from the Church?”
Various organisations and child rights activists are planning to gather on Monday outside the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid to protest the lack of an open meeting with those who have been demanding truth, redress, and direct responses from the Church for years.
Victims in the Canary Islands
The discontent in the Canary Islands is also evident. Ciro Molina, a victim of sexual abuse in the Church and spokesperson for ANIR in the islands, has denounced that the Pope will not meet with Canary Island victims during his visit to the Archipelago, calling for a “more humane” response. Molina explained to Atlántico Hoy that he seeks neither privileges nor photographs but wishes to “look Pope Leo XIV in the eye” and convey how victims feel and how they believe they are still being treated by the Church.
Molina pointed out that the gathering in Madrid will serve as a way to express their dissatisfaction with the lack of a meeting. “We are still being mistreated,” he asserted.
The spokesperson for ANIR in the Canary Islands stated that victims had requested the meeting since September 2025 and made another request to the diocese on 19 May. According to Molina, the response was that it was not possible due to the limited time the Pope will be on the island. “We continue to be mistreated, just as we have been all these years,” he said, lamenting that the papal visit to the Canary Islands, touted as a historic milestone, fails to include a space to listen to those who have reported abuse within the Church on the islands.
A Visit Marked by Absence
Pope Leo XIV will visit the Canary Islands on 11 and 12 June, focusing on migration, with events planned in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. However, for Molina and other Canary Island victims, the lack of a meeting with them raises an uncomfortable question amidst the institutional display. Molina himself has critiqued the absence of “real commitment” or “will for change” towards victims, asserting that the Church continues to “pass the buck,” believing it has already participated in the State’s reparative process.
