Overview
- The pope met 15 people from Belgium who were abused by clergy as minors, according to the Holy See Press Office.
- The encounter was described as “profound and painful,” conducted in a spirit of closeness, listening and dialogue, and it concluded with prayer.
- Members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors accompanied the group and held a separate meeting the same day to continue talks begun in July.
- Many participants had previously met Pope Francis during his September 2024 visit to Belgium.
- The meeting follows Pope Leo’s recent Vatican session with survivors and a commission report urging Catholic leaders to do more to support victims.