(ITALY)
Ms. Magazine [Arlington VA]
May 29, 2025
By Denise Buchanan
Despite Pope Leo XIV’s troubling start, survivors and advocates worldwide are demanding more than words—they’re demanding justice, transparency and true reform from the Catholic Church.
When Pope Leo XIV stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on May 9, 2025, survivors of clergy sexual abuse around the world looked on—not with awe, but with apprehension.
His election, rather than ushering in an era of accountability and healing, has reopened wounds. Many had hoped for a papacy rooted in reckoning, but instead, we have received familiar deflections—denials of personal responsibility for cases that unfolded under his leadership in past roles. Rather than acknowledging institutional failures or the human suffering caused, he has opted for self-preservation over repentance, speaking in guarded tones that prioritize the Church’s reputation over the voices of its most wounded.
Yet, paradoxically, survivors must hold on to hope—not because of what has been said, but because of what remains possible. Hope is not passive. It is the fuel of the faithful and the force behind every justice movement. And while Vatican pronouncements remain cautious, the Church no longer operates in the secrecy of past centuries. Civil investigations are advancing. Lay Catholics are mobilizing. Survivors are organizing, speaking truths that no papal statement can silence.
We must not forget: The clergy abuse crisis is not just a moral failing of individuals—it is a structural crisis fueled by clericalism, secrecy and misplaced loyalties. The solution requires more than denials and vague assurances. It demands humility, transparency and systemic reform.
Pope Leo XIV may not have begun his papacy with accountability, but he cannot lead without it. This pope inherits more than the spiritual stewardship of over a billion Catholics; he also bears the moral imperative to confront one of the Church’s gravest crises: the enduring trauma of sexual abuse and institutional cover-ups. His reluctance to acknowledge past failures is not merely disappointing—it is dangerous. Leadership demands that he do more than defend Vatican tradition. He must defend its soul.
He has the opportunity to course correct, as Pope Francis did in Chile when confronted with the clergy abuse scandal surrounding Bishop Juan Barros. Initially dismissive, Pope Francis reversed his stance after an investigation revealed widespread cover-ups. He acknowledged his error in judgment, issued a public apology and took decisive action. What gives survivors hope is not empty words of denial—but the possibility of such moments in time.
Survivors are not alone. We are an unrelenting global force—supported by advocates, journalists, legal experts, theologians and faithful Catholics, demanding truth and transparency.
The cracks are already showing: Civil authorities in multiple countries are no longer deferring to clerical privilege. Lay-led commissions and independent audits are becoming the norm. Bishops who once operated with impunity are facing real legal consequences. Even within the Church, priests and nuns are calling for survivor-centered reform.
If Pope Leo XIV wants to avoid becoming another chapter in the Vatican’s legacy of denial, he must shift from self-preservation to servant leadership. His own words upon election spoke of “loving care for the least and rejected … building bridges to peace and justice, welcoming everyone in dialogue and love.” Survivors accept this invitation—but only if it is backed by action.
The weight of his authority is immense—but authority must be matched by moral courage. His legacy will be defined not by what he defends, but by what he reforms. He still has the chance to champion change and lead decisively: to commission independent inquiries. To release sealed archives. To support restorative justice for survivors. To declare, unequivocally, that the era of concealment is over.
Until he does, the Church is not safe. But if he does, the Church can begin to heal.
Survivors have always carried the burden of truth. Now, the Vatican must carry the burden of justice.
About Denise Buchanan
Denise Buchanan, Ph.D., is a Jamaican survivor of clergy sexual abuse and international advocate for child protection and trauma recovery. She is the CEO of Faith Has Feet, co-founder of ECA: Ending Clergy Abuse, a Global Justice Project and member of The Brave Movement, which is focused on an advocacy effort ahead of the G7 Summit calling upon G7 leaders to demonstrate decisive leadership and make concrete commitments to end childhood sexual violence.