Pope Leo denounces child sexual abuse in Church

 VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV reiterated his commitment to stopping abuse in the Catholic Church in a message sent to the Philippine Church, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported.

 Writing to the Philippine Church which met to discuss child sexual abuse within the institution, the pontiff allegedly said that he “renews [his] appeal that there be no tolerance for any form of abuse in the Church.” He added that he hopes that “our deliberations will lead to the implementation of essential policies and practices that ensure transparency in the handling of issues, promote a culture of prevention and safeguard the Lord’s ‘little ones’.”

 Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope Francis, the current pontiff reportedly stressed the need for the Church to be a space to “worship God and care for others, especially children and vulnerable people.”

 This comes after shortly after the publication of the second annual report on the Church’s policies and procedures by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The report stated that there had been “significant progress in coordinating a multi-level protection system,” however criticised “considerable cultural resistance in Italy to addressing abuse.”

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