🔗 Share this article

Individuals who experienced abuse by church officials have voiced fresh optimism after their first meeting with the new Pope at the Vatican.

Gemma Hickey, who leads Ending Clergy Abuse, commented that the Pope's choice to meet with them so early in his leadership spoke volumes about his commitment to addressing the problem.

Global Strict Approach Pushed

The organization is pushing for a global zero-tolerance policy that would defrock any priest who admits to or is found guilty of abusing a child. This policy has already been adopted in the US.

The Pontiff acknowledged that there is "opposition in certain regions of the world" to this initiative, according to the representative.

"Everyone was practical when we recognized that there is resistance," Hickey remarked.

Legacy Issue

The new Pope, who assumed the role in May, has inherited this longstanding problem that has haunted the Church for many years.

Previous efforts to resolve the problem included an historic summit on child abuse within the institution and revisions to church laws to clearly outlaw abuse.

Deeply Felt Link

For the representative, who prefers gender-neutral pronouns, the campaign for worldwide adoption of the measure is personal. The Canadian advocate shared they were abused by a clergy member who was later transferred between various churches.

"We trust this will set the tone for his leadership, because we want to work with him," Hickey expressed. "We have the common objective, we seek to eliminate clergy abuse."

Historic Encounter

Seven members of the coalition, which includes survivors and supporters from more than 30 nations, engaged with the Pope in his Vatican office.

The meeting, originally scheduled for 20 minutes, extended to a full hour, during which the Pope "mostly listened to us," according to Hickey.

The Pope was described as "very understanding" when listening to the account of a woman abused at a Catholic residential school for Indigenous children in North America.

Hickey added the leader was "compassionate" about their personal experience and seemed "very humble, humorous, and very down to earth."

"Survivors have consistently sought a seat at the table and I didn't perceive like he was making empty promises," Hickey commented. "I believed like he was genuine, practical, and receptive and keen to work with us."

Canon Law Changes

The group is hoping that changes to church regulations will facilitate the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy globally.

They have consulted experts and compiled documents that they will present to Pope Leo.

"He seemed engaged in reviewing it," Hickey remarked.

Responsibility Highlighted

A recent church-ordered document emphasized the "necessity of a efficient process for the stepping down and/or dismissal of religious officials or staff in cases of abuse or failure to act."

The document also noted that victims repeatedly stressed the "urgent need for church leaders and senior officials to be held accountable for negligence and cover-up."

Moving Forward

Hickey shared they told the pontiff at the beginning of their discussion: "This is as much a risk for him to participate in a conversation as it was for us."

After the encounter, Hickey voiced hope for future change.

"We realise it's not something that's going to happen overnight, but at the conclusion, uniting and establishing a relationship and persisting to build that bond is a move in the right direction," Hickey stated.

Hickey concluded that they told with Pope Leo: "Even though it's a dark chapter, I feel like we can change how the story concludes - he appreciated that."