Pope Leo XIV has instructed the Catholic Church’s newest bishops to confront sexual abuse by priests openly—and never hide allegations of misconduct, warning that such cases “cannot be put in a drawer.”
Speaking to around 200 bishops appointed over the past year, he emphasized the need to approach accusations with both justice and mercy, ensuring fairness for victims as well as the accused.
The remarks come as the Church continues to grapple with decades of abuse scandals worldwide.
Pope Leo, who was elected in May following the death of Pope Francis, has already signaled a firm stance on abuse.
While Pope Leo called for transparency, Francis’s record remains controversial. Despite promising reform, he was accused of shielding clerics like Fr. Marko Rupnik and Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, raising doubts about his commitment to accountability—a legacy Pope Leo now seems intent on reversing.
