Pope Confronts Abuse
Pope Leo XIV Pledges Continued Action Against Abuse, Citing "Open Wound" in Church
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Pope Leo XIV arrived in Spain on Saturday declaring that clerical sexual abuse remains "a wound still open" — and pledging that both he and the entire Church will keep fighting to address it. He made the remarks during an in-flight press conference while traveling from Rome to Madrid, according to El Periódico.
The Pope landed at Madrid-Barajas Airport at 10:30 CET, where King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia greeted him. The visit is the first Papal trip to Spain in 15 years, according to Diario de Mallorca.
Pope's Own Words Cut Through Diplomatic Caution
Speaking directly to journalists aboard the flight, Leo XIV said: "I personally have always worked to institute commissions, to create rules, and I will continue to do so — because it is an open wound." The quote stood out for its personal tone. He did not hedge or delegate. He said "I personally," according to El Correo Gallego.
The night before departure, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the Pope will meet privately with abuse survivors in Spain. The meeting was kept off the official agenda to protect victims' privacy. Media pressure had been building for days before the Vatican confirmed the session.
440,000 Estimated Victims Behind Spain's Reckoning
The backdrop to the Pope's words is staggering in scale. A 2023 report by the Spanish Ombudsman estimated that as many as 440,000 people have been victims of abuse within the religious sphere in Spain since 1940. Currently, 317 active case files are being processed by the Ombudsman's Victim Unit, according to Información.
In March 2026, Spain took a major step forward. The Spanish Government, the Episcopal Conference, and the Ombudsman signed a joint protocol for compensating victims whose cases are too old for criminal prosecution. The government gets the final word on payouts under that program, according to Diario de Córdoba.
Journalists Hand Pope a List of 64 Accused Bishops
Reporters from the Spanish press handed the Pope a drive containing between 800 and 1,200 victim testimonies during the flight. The material included a list naming 64 bishops and 26 religious superiors accused of covering up abuse. The Vatican now faces pressure to open formal investigations, according to El Periódico Mediterráneo.
British investigative journalist Gareth Gore also shared evidence with Leo XIV regarding Opus Dei. That reportedly influenced the Pope's push to meet specifically with survivors connected to that institution. Victims' groups like Infancia Robada have called the private-meeting format insufficient. They scheduled a protest for Monday, demanding public recognition rather than a closed-door audience, according to La Opinión de Málaga.
A Historic Week Ahead in Madrid and Beyond
The visit involves the largest security operation in Spanish history — 15,000 agents deployed across the country. One million people are expected to attend a Sunday Mass in central Madrid. On June 8, the Pope is set to address both chambers of the Spanish Parliament, the first time any Pope has done so, according to La Provincia.
The trip ends June 12 in the Canary Islands, where Leo XIV plans to focus on the migrant crisis. While the Vatican had framed the visit around immigration and AI, the abuse issue has dominated coverage from the start. Analysts say the Vatican is quietly uneasy that the abuse crisis has taken over the trip's narrative, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
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