Pope Leo XIV. declared on Saturday that sexual abuse within the Catholic Church remains an “open wound.” He stated this at the beginning of his trip to Spain, during which he is to meet the victims of this violence. TASR writes about it according to an AFP report. The seven-day state visit – the first visit of the Pope to Spain since 2010 – started at the Madrid airport, where he was welcomed by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The Vatican said the pope would meet with victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, with Leo telling reporters after arriving in Madrid that the issue was a “still open wound.” According to a 2023 report by the Spanish Ombudsman, approximately 200,000 minors have been victims of such abuse in Spain since 1940. The government of Pedro Sánchez and the Catholic Church in Spain signed an agreement in March to compensate the victims after years of hesitation and a lack of transparency from the church hierarchy.
At the same time, the Pope said that he was pleased with the news about the growing interest of young people in the Catholic Church. “They realize that there is a void and a lack of meaning, and maybe my visit will awaken something in them even more,” he said. His arrival in Madrid coincides with a series of concerts by Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, with some observers warning that the youth are torn between faith and music. “I think a lot of people will go to Bad Bunny’s (concert). But I think a few people will come to see the Pope. And that’s saying something,” the Pope said.
After visiting the royal palace, the Pope has a prayer vigil on Saturday near the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where around 400,000 people are expected. On Sunday, approximately one million worshipers are expected to attend mass in the center of the capital. During his trip, the Pope will address the Spanish Parliament and also bless the new tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, which is the tallest church in the world. Leo XIV will visit on Thursday and Friday. also the Canary Islands, where he will meet migrants and organizations that help them.
