Pope Leo XIV has emphasized the urgent need for the Catholic Church to establish a culture that refuses to tolerate abuse in any form. In a message sent for the performance of a play dramatizing the work of investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, the Pope praised Ugaz and other Peruvian journalists for their reporting on abuse scandals inside the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), a hugely influential Catholic society with deep ties to Peru’s powerful and wealthy.
“It is urgent to ingrain throughout the Church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse — neither of power or authority, nor of conscience or spirituality, nor sexual,” Pope Leo wrote in his message. “This culture will only be authentic if it is born of active vigilance, transparent processes, and sincere listening to those who have been hurt.”
The Pope highlighted the essential role of journalism in implementing a culture of prevention within the Church. He praised Ugaz and fellow journalists for their courage in exposing the abuses, saying they had done so with “courage, patience, and fidelity to the truth” despite facing “unjust attacks.” The Pope emphasized that journalists play a vital role in ensuring the Church is a place where “no one suffers in silence” and where “the truth is not seen as a threat, but as a path to liberation.”
Pope Leo also referenced the importance of a free media in Peru, where journalists have faced intimidation and attacks. “In this time of profound institutional and social tensions, defending free and ethical journalism is not only an act of justice, but a duty of all those who yearn for a solid and participatory democracy,” he said.
“Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a country is weakened. Freedom of the press is an inalienable common good. Those who conscientiously exercise this vocation cannot see their voices silenced by petty interests or fear of the truth.”
The Pope emphasized the need for the Church to follow “a concrete path of humility, truth, and reparation” when tackling abuses. He cited a landmark 2018 letter from Pope Francis, in which he pledged the Church’s “commitment to guarantee the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.” Pope Leo insisted that the response to abuse cannot simply be a “strategy” but requires a “conversion” by the Church.