Pope Leo XIV has delivered his strongest statement yet on the Catholic Church’s abuse crisis, calling for the establishment of a culture that refuses to tolerate abuse “in any form.”
His remarks came in a message addressed to a theatrical performance in Lima, Peru, centered on the work of investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, who has exposed abuse within a prominent Catholic society.
“It is urgent to ingrain throughout the Church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse, neither of power or authority, nor of conscience or spirituality, nor sexual,” the pope stated in the message, read aloud on June 20.
“This culture will only be authentic if it is born of active vigilance, transparent processes, and sincere listening to those who have been hurt.”
This marks the first time Pope Leo has spoken publicly about clerical abuse since becoming pope on May 8.
His words accompanied a performance of Proyecto Ugaz, a play that chronicles the investigations and personal trials of Ugaz, who has endured legal threats and intimidation in her reporting on the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, an influential Catholic organization in Peru with strong ties to the country’s elite.
Pope Leo, the first American to lead the Catholic Church and a former missionary in Peru, has a personal connection to the SCV case.
While working in Peru, he encountered Ugaz and collaborated in efforts that survivors credit as pivotal in holding the group accountable. The SCV has since been disbanded.
Highlighting the essential role of journalism in confronting abuse, Pope Leo praised Ugaz and her colleagues for their efforts.
“The work of journalism was essential to implementing that culture of prevention,” he said, acknowledging the risks they faced. He added that the journalists who investigated the Sodalitium acted with “courage, patience, and fidelity to the truth” and endured “unjust attacks.”
The pope’s message was delivered by Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, a Vatican investigator in the SCV case, during the play’s performance. Ugaz stood on stage as the message was read.
Leo echoed the sentiments of Pope Francis’ 2018 letter, reaffirming the Church’s duty to protect the vulnerable and pursue justice.
“A concrete path of humility, truth, and reparation” must guide the Church’s response, he said. The crisis cannot be met with mere strategy, Leo warned — it demands a “conversion” from within the Church.
He lamented the betrayal experienced by victims. “The Church recognizes the wound in so many children, young people, and adults who were betrayed where they sought solace,” the pope wrote. He also praised those “who risked their freedom and their (good) names so that the truth would not be buried.”
Leo’s stance on the press comes amid growing challenges to journalistic freedom globally and specifically in Peru, where tensions have persisted following the ousting of President Pedro Castillo in 2022.
Emphasizing the importance of independent reporting, the pope described press freedom as fundamental to democracy.
“In this time of profound institutional and social tensions, defending free and ethical journalism is not only an act of justice, but a duty of all those who yearn for a solid and participatory democracy,” he stated.
“Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a country is weakened. Freedom of the press is an inalienable common good. Those who conscientiously exercise this vocation cannot see their voices silenced by petty interests or fear of the truth.”
A few days after his election, Leo met with members of the press at the Vatican. Ugaz was among those present. During the encounter, she gifted him a Peruvian scarf and chocolates.
The pope reiterated his support for journalism and called for the release of imprisoned reporters worldwide.
Reflecting on that meeting in his message, Leo described journalism as a “sacred mission,” saying reporters have the responsibility “to become bridges between the facts and the conscience of the people.”
