Pope Leo XIV spent nearly three hours meeting with 15 survivors of clerical sexual abuse from Belgium, highlighting the Catholic Church’s commitment to listening, healing, and preventing abuse.

The Vatican described the encounter as “profound and painful,” emphasizing the pope’s focus on child and youth well-being.

The meeting took place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Vatican, where each survivor shared their experience in a spirit of closeness, dialogue, and support. Pope Leo’s long session reflects the scale of the crisis in Belgium, where abuse scandals have shaken the Catholic Church over the past 30 years.

During his six months as pope, the first American pope has called for a culture that refuses to tolerate abuse in any form. He previously met with survivors in Belgium last year and held a Vatican meeting last month following a Vatican commission report urging the Church to do more to support victims.

Pope Leo has personal experience addressing clergy abuse from his time as a bishop in Peru. His meetings show a commitment to prevention, support, and healing for children and young people affected by abuse, reinforcing the Church’s promise to create safer and more supportive communities.

The meeting signals that the Catholic Church is taking concrete steps to address past abuse, listen to survivors, and ensure child and youth safety in the future.