Pope will act on sexual abuse, says Belgian archbishop amid cover-up allegations
Pope Leo XIV will have zero tolerance for sexual abuse in the Church, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels Luc Terlinden said at a press conference on Friday. Terlinden is responding to accusations that the newly elected pope has covered up cases of sexual abuse in the past.
In March, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) sent a letter to the Vatican listing six names that should not be allowed to succeed Pope Francis, accusing them of covering up sexual abuse in the church. Robert Prevost, who was named Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, was on the list.
The organisation says that in 2000, Prevost allegedly allowed a priest accused of abusing minors to remain in a monastery near a primary school. SNAP also accuses Prevost of obstructing the investigation of three victims of sexual abuse in 2022. Allegedly, he protected a local priest while he worked as bishop in Peru.
Retired priest Rik Devillé, who runs a non-profit organisation for abuse victims, echoed SNAP's complaints, calling Prevost's election "painful". "Out of all these 133 cardinals, could they really not have chosen someone with no record of culpable negligence?" he asked.
"Pope will fight sexual abuse"
During a press conference, Archbishop Luc Terlinden assured that the new Pope will follow in the footsteps of his predecessors in the fight against sexual abuse. "He will support the Belgian policy of preventing sexual abuse and prosecuting perpetrators," Terlinden said. "That was also a priority for him in the process of choosing the new bishops."
Terlinden has met Prevost several times in the past. As pope, he will work to integrate more women into the church and to unite people, the Belgian archbishop said. Overall, he is pleased with the choice of Prevost. "He is a trained theologian, a man of dialogue and a true bridge-builder," Terlinden said.
© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
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