Key facts
- Pope Leo will visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
- Survivors credit Pope Leo with helping dissolve the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae community.
- Juan Carlos Cruz credits Pope Francis with reforms including revisions to canon law and removal of the pontifical secret.
- BishopAccountability.org's Anne Barrett Doyle called Vos Estis the most significant action Francis took on abuse.
- The Legion of Christ reported in 2019 that founder Marcial Maciel had abused at least 60 minors.
Pope Leo is set to visit South America from November 6 to 17, with abuse survivors planning to press the Church on accountability. While some survivors credit Pope Leo with helping to dissolve the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae community in Peru, others feel abandoned and deceived by the Church's actions, seeking greater justice, accountability, and reparations.
During his time as a bishop in Peru, Pope Leo, then known as Robert Prevost, reportedly worked with survivors and advocates. However, survivors question if his approach can lead to broader change within a Church where accountability is seen as uneven.
Pope Francis' legacy on abuse is described as complicated by survivors. Juan Carlos Cruz credits him with reforms like revising canon law and removing the pontifical secret, but watchdog groups note a lack of transparency regarding disciplinary actions against bishops. Survivors increasingly seek recourse through civil authorities due to the Church's perceived failure to police itself.