Pope Leo XIV told Catholic bishops in Spain on Monday that the church must listen to abuse victims and offer them reparations, during his week-long tour of Spain, his first trip to an EU member outside Italy.
A 2023 report by Spain's human rights ombudsman found that Spanish clergy had sexually abused 200,000 children. The Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) apologized but disputed the figures.
"Faced with this scourge, the ecclesial community is called to respond with listening, truth, justice, reparation and an ever more determined commitment to prevention and a culture of care," Leo said in an address to the CEE.
The pope also met with six survivors of sexual abuse by the church. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope listened with "affection and attention."
Some survivor organizations protested outside the Vatican embassy in Madrid, saying they were not informed about the meeting. Juan Cuatrecasas, spokesperson for the Robbed Childhood organization, said: "They are being used by the church to clean up the image of a Spanish church that has never been able to live up to its victims."
The abuse scandal comes as fewer Spaniards identify as Catholic. In the 1970s, 90% of Spaniards were Catholic; in 2025, only 55% claim that affiliation.
On Monday, Leo also addressed Spain's parliament, the first-ever address by a Catholic Church leader, receiving a seven-minute standing ovation. He touched on migrants, international law, rearmament, and artificial intelligence.
Leo said the "tragic drama of migration" challenges the conscience of nations, urging "safe and legal pathways" and "real opportunities for integration." He also called for "diplomatic courage" to resolve the US-Israeli regime's war with Iran and emphasized peaceful dispute resolution under international law.
The pontiff expressed concern over global rearmament, particularly in Europe amid the Russia-Ukraine war, and warned of the risks of militarized AI, urging "rigorous ethical vigilance." Companies like Palantir and Helsing provide AI software for battlefield targeting.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that AI could endanger civilians during wartime, while the Brookings Institution has said unchecked AI could trigger a nuclear war.
Source: www.dw.com