Pope Leo XIV will hold a meeting with victims of abuse within the Catholic Church during his upcoming visit to Spain, as confirmed this Friday night by the Vatican in an official statement.
The meeting, which is not on the public agenda for the trip, is part of an apostolic visit that will begin this Saturday and has generated great anticipation regarding its content and the groups that will be received.
The Vatican spokesperson stated that "during his upcoming Apostolic Journey, the Holy Father will meet with several victims of clerical abuse in Spain", specifying that the meeting has been organized by the Spanish Church and that details will be communicated later "respecting the victims, their wishes, and their privacy".
Discontent from associations and announced protests
Various victim associations in Spain have expressed their disappointment at not having been included in the organization of the meeting. Juan Cuatrecasas, president of the National Association Infancia Robada, criticized the situation in statements to the EFE agency: "They treat us like refuse. What can you expect from the Church?"
The organizations also denounce the lack of direct channels of communication with the Vatican and maintain that the reparation process remains incomplete.
In this context, several groups have announced protests this Monday in front of the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid, coinciding with the papal visit.
Among them is activist Miguel Hurtado, the first to report abuse at the Montserrat Abbey, who has called for a direct response from the Pontiff to the victims.