Leo addressed the topic in a March 16 audience with members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Pope Leo XIV meets with members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors at the Vatican on March 16, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Monday urged the Church to listen to victims of sexual abuse, and called for the recognition of the pain caused and for the creation of “a culture of care.”
“It is about helping to form, throughout the Church, a culture of care, in which the protection of minors and persons in vulnerable situations is not seen as an obligation imposed from outside but as a natural expression of faith,” the pope said in an audience with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) on March 16.
He added that it calls “for a process of conversion where the sufferings of others are heard and move us to take action.”
Leo noted that the experiences of victims and survivors are “essential reference points,” adding that “while they are certainly painful and difficult to hear, these experiences powerfully bring the truth to light and teach us humility.”
He also warned bishops and the superiors of religious orders and communities that they “have a responsibility of their own that cannot be delegated” to “listening to victims and accompanying them” in every ecclesial institution and community.
He further stated that “it is precisely through the recognition of the pain that has occurred that a credible path for hope and renewal is opened.”
Prevention is not only a set of rules
The Holy Father explained that “prevention is never just a set of protocols or procedures.”
He also insisted that “the protection of minors and persons in vulnerable situations is not an isolated area of ecclesial life but a dimension that permeates pastoral care, formation, governance, and discipline.”
The pope also thanked the commission for its work in abuse prevention, describing it as “a demanding service, sometimes silent, often burdensome,” and asked its members to intensify “even greater cooperation” with other dicasteries and protection institutions.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Through the example of Mary, Pope Leo on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square said the Church can see the “revolutionary nature of love and tenderness” and its impact on the events of history as well as the everyday lives of each individual. / Credit: Vatican Media
Rome Newsroom, Oct 12, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV’s Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square was attended by 30,000 pilgrims in Rome for the Jubilee of Marian Spiritualities, and thousands more people who gathered in neighboring streets outside the Vatican for the liturgical celebration.
During the Mass, the Holy Father expressed his great appreciation and gratitude to the members of movements, confraternities, prayer groups, and shrines — dedicated to the Blessed Virgin — for coming to Rome to participate in the Church’s holy year dedicated to hope.
Leo said their spirituality, anchored in Sacred Scripture and Church tradition, reveals the profound beauty of God’s personal love for each person.
“Mary’s path follows that of Jesus, which leads us to encounter every human being, especially the poor, the wounded and sinners,” he said in his Oct. 12 homily. “Because of this, authentic Marian spirituality brings God’s tenderness, his way of ‘being a mother,’ to light in the Church.”
During the Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 12, 2025, the Holy Father expressed his great appreciation and gratitude to the members of movements, confraternities, prayer groups, and shrines — dedicated to the Blessed Virgin — for coming to Rome to participate in the Church’s holy year dedicated to hope. Credit: Vatican Media
According to the pontiff, devotion to the Mother of God has “changed the face of the earth forever” and should be revived through “popular devotion,” particularly in a world seeking peace and justice.
“Let us use [Marian devotions] as a driving force for renewal and transformation,” he said on Sunday. “Indeed, the Jubilee we are celebrating calls for a time of conversion and restitution, of reflection and liberation.”
Since becoming pope in May, Leo XIV has frequently spoken about the significance of the Canticle of Mary in the life of the Church throughout its 2,000-year history.
“Some forms of worship do not foster communion with others and can numb our hearts … We fail to contribute, as Mary did, to changing the world, and to share in the joy of the Magnificat,” he said.
“Let us take care to avoid any exploitation of the faith that could lead to labelling those who are different — often the poor — as enemies, ‘lepers’ to be avoided and rejected,” he added.
Through the example of Mary, the Holy Father said the Church can see the “revolutionary nature of love and tenderness” and its impact on the events of history as well as the everyday lives of each individual.
“In her, we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves,” the pope said.
“Contemplating Mary, we realize that she who praised God for ‘bringing down the mighty from their thrones’ and ‘sending the rich away empty’ is also the one who brings a homely warmth to our pursuit of justice,” he continued.
After delivering his homily on Sunday, Oct. 12 in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV stood before the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima brought to St. Peter’s Square from Portugal, and dedicated the Church and the world to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He prayed particularly for those “tormented by the scourges of war.” Credit: Vatican Media
After delivering his homily, Leo XIV stood before the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima brought to St. Peter’s Square from Portugal, and dedicated the Church and the world to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He prayed particularly for those “tormented by the scourges of war.”
“Obtain for us the gift of peace that we earnestly implore,” he prayed. “Mother of the Church, welcome us kindly so that under your mantle we may find refuge and be helped by your maternal aid in the trials of life.”
Pope Leo XIV waves at the large crowds in St. Peter’s Square in Oct. 12, 2025, where 30,000 pilgrims gathered in Rome for the Jubilee of Marian Spiritualities, and thousands more people packed into neighboring streets outside the Vatican for the liturgical celebration. Credit: Vatican Media
‘With the entire Church, I am close to your immense pain’
Before leading the congregation in the Angelus prayer before the conclusion of Holy Mass, the Holy Father delivered a brief Sunday address and asked the Church to especially pray for people in Israel and Palestine.
“In recent days, the agreement to begin the peace process has given a spark of hope in the Holy Land,” he said, referring to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal brokered Friday.
“I encourage the parties involved to continue courageously on the path they have chosen, towards a just and lasting peace that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” he said.
The Holy Father concluded his short address with petitions for prayer for the people of Ukraine, following recent fatal attacks in Kyiv;the people of Peru, who are undergoing a time of “political transition”; and for victims of workplace accidents in Italy.
Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, speaks with EWTN News during an interview at the Vatican on Dec. 11, 2024. / Credit: EWTN News
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