Madrid (AFP) – Pope Leo XIV will give an unprecedented address on Monday to the Spanish parliament and is set to meet with victims of sexual abuse by clergy.
Issued on: 08/06/2026 - 04:54
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The closed-door meeting, reported by Spanish media, is already clouded in controversy, as some of the main victims' associations said they were not invited.Juan Cuatrecasas, spokesman for the association Infancia Robada (Stolen Childhood), told AFP it was a "blow".He said the pope risked seeing "a completely skewed reality" if he met only with victims assisted by the Repara project of the archdiocese of Madrid.Spanish media said the meeting would take place on Monday afternoon at the Vatican embassy in the Spanish capital, formally known as the apostolic nunciature.The Vatican earlier said in a statement the pope would speak to victims during his seven-day visit to Spain.But it did not say when or where, adding that it would not give further information until after the meeting out of "respect for the victims".
Pope Leo XIV is visiting Spain June 6-12 © Blanca CRUZ / AFP
