Pope León XIV calls clerical pederasty a ‘plague’ during Spain visit

During a June 2026 visit to Spain, Pope León XIV addressed the Catholic Church’s sexual‑abuse crisis, describing clerical pederasty as a “plague.” He met privately with six survivors of abuse, a session that critics said was tightly controlled, and urged swift justice, independent investigations, reparations and full cooperation with civil authorities. The pontiff also delivered a public address to the Spanish Congress, praising migrant protection while condemning the Church’s silence on abuse. His remarks highlighted a stark contrast between the Vatican’s vocal stance on migration and its defensive posture on internal scandals, calling for systemic reform and transparency within the institution.