Pope Leo XIV

ASSISI, Italy, Nov 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Pope Leo XIV called Thursday on the Italian Church to develop a "culture of prevention" on clerical child sex abuse, after criticisms it has been slow to respond to the global crisis.

But a survivor's group expressed disappointment that the pontiff did not go further in demanding action from the Italian Bishops Conference, which was holding its general assembly in the town of Assisi.

"I would like to recommend particular attention to the youngest and most vulnerable, so that a culture of prevention of all forms of abuse can develop," the US pope told the meeting.

He stressed the importance of welcoming and listening to victims, adding: "I thank you for what you have already done and I encourage you to continue your commitment to protecting minors and vulnerable adults."

Leo did not directly refer to a recent report by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which criticised the "substantial cultural resistance" in Italy to addressing abuse.

Unlike in many other countries, the Italian Catholic Church has not yet launched a national investigation into abuse by members of the clergy.

Italian survivors group Rete L'Abuso (The Abuse Network), expressed incomprehension at the pope's words.

"In reality, in Italy, there's nothing to be thankful for, and they (the Vatican) know that well," group founder Francesco Zanardi told AFP.

In a report published in October, Rete l'Abuso estimated that 1,106 priests had been accused of sexual abuse in Italy, with almost 4,400 known victims, dating back to 2000.

The vast majority of cases were never reported to the Italian judicial authorities, it said.

Zanardi said many priests accused are just transferred to another diocese, lamenting that there was no law that forced the Church to report abuse.

"Everything works as it did 30 years ago in Italy," he said.

"The only thing that has changed is that before they did it in secret, now they do it in full view of everyone."

In October, Pope Leo XIV held his first meeting with a group of survivors of sexual abuse since taking office in May, following the death of Pope Francis.

The US-based Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) told AFP afterwards it had asked for the Vatican to extend a "zero tolerance" rule on abuse already adopted in the United States to the rest of the Church, but said the pope noted the significant resistance to such a change around the world.